Category: Environment

Not too sure what to write today? Death of Wagner leader is interesting – much of the press did the normal and decided that it was Putin – sloppy journalism, at least the Mail put a question mark on the headline. What happens next is the interesting bit. Wagner was big in parts of Africa where it provided soldiers and arms and received gold, diamonds, etc. I had wondered for some time where the conflicts in the Congo and Sudan got their weaponry from? The pen has yet to be more powerful than the sword in many parts of Africa. Fledgeling democrcies that are trying to build after the demise of colonialism and then globalisation of their resources now seem to be swayed by power grabs by military groups as in Niger recently. It is all a bit James Bond without a hero! I doubt many will rue the demise of Prigozhin – his troops were renowned for their cruelty towards civilians.

Next topic – education. There is a growing divide between regions of England with the N-E having 10% less top grades than London. Reasons for this are complex but would seem to be related to wealth and job opportunities. When there is a lack of opportunity there is a lack of motivation . Poverty of food and warmth does not encourage ambition and learning. Public schools do even better as the exams are ones that they can coach students for. It is time for a proper evaluation of our education system and the worth of certain qualifications.

Next – Bonus payments and wages of directors. I think this was yesterdays news – was it an average of 17% on top of the huge salaries they are paid anyway. I often hear of footballers, some of whom earn vast amounts, giving copious amounts to charity – but rarely hear of businessmen (and it is still mainly men – so I will alter to business people) who earn inflated salaries giving anything to any one! And when one like Dale Vince supports a cause close to his heart he is castigated for it.

The government is complaining about the cost of asylum seekers due to its own inefficiencies. Solution – do a quick check for criminality then approve them all. they can then get jobs and pay rent – so a deal may need to be done with the hotels to reduce their rates?

Lastly climate matters – it sure does. Energy cap will fall to £1900+ this winter, but still much higher than before.Government North Sea reserves will not help, it takes a long time to get the stuff out and it is then sold on international markets. Wind and solar however benefit immediately and are not subject to international fluctuations – but at set rates which industry can cope with.

Huge wild fires continue in Canada whilst further south Nevada braces itself for Storm Hilary which has brought floods to California and Mexico already. When will the climate deniers recognise the symptoms, how bad does it have to get? https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world-us-canada-66566483

Maybe when the insurance claims get so huge the corporations will take notice? Probably not – they will just move to less troubled climates. Will any government be brave enough to hold the executives of corporations causing climate disasters responsible? Huge fines and prison sentences are needed. The same for politicians who spread the lies and misinformation.

Yellowknife, North Western Territories, Canada (pop 20000), evacuated, is added to the list of dangerous wild fires which seem to be affecting much of the northern hemisphere this summer. The cost in human life is rising, wildlife suffers untold damage, the economic cost is huge. Coping with the fires is difficult. So could more be done in prevention? In Hawaii imported and invasive grasses have been blamed together with a wet spring followed by drought and high winds.

Firstly we need to take action on climate change NOW. Things will only get worse so putting the country on a war footing against climate change is imperative.

Secondly I wonder whether we need a rethink of our attitude to nature. Water extraction from wetland areas is plain stupid. Should we encourage more herbivores? I love my herbs and mints, but would not complain too much if deer came off the hill for a snack if it prevented a wildfire? Do we need to increase coppicing in woodland areas to reduce the potential fuel. I know that overgrazing is harmful to the environment but reckon a plan could be worked out.

Thirdly – education – most fires are caused by people; some maliciously (law enforcement with harsh penalties?); but many through ignorance, the BBQ not properly extinguished, a cigarette end not disposed of properly, a bottle discarded as litter. The consequences of these actions needs to be core curriculum in schools.

First Zac Goldsmith and now Andy Street have come out to warn against the retreat from Net Zero and environmental protection. With the tories still trailing badly in the polls it is surprising that more have spoken out against Sunak’s environmental back tracking.

First the Cabinet tried the attack on demonstrators via legislation, then they tried to demonise Labour as being the political wing of just stop oil. Unfortunately for them most people agree with philosophy of Greenpeace and Just Stop Oil if not the tactics used. I know there are plenty of hairy knob heads who don’t care as long as they can drive their cars and bikes along suburban streets at dangerous speeds.

But most people can see fires across Europe and elsewhere (and now floods and landslides in Norway), and make the link to climate change and burning fossil fuels. The governments response to Greenpeace’s harmless covering of Sunak’s house was frankly childish beyond measure. They will not talk to the group anymore and have ordered civil servants to cut links. Greenpeace provide valuable knowledge and data on many issues such as deep sea mining..

Latest reports show 90% British Rivers to be in a poor state. Sea quality at a number of resorts is too bad to swim. Labour has an opportunity here to crush the nasty party – is Starmer brave enough?

I don’t get it! Analysis of global data shows that the UK has lagged behind the rest of the world in investment in renewable energy. Growth is approx. half of the rates in the rest of the world. The investment in solar panels on houses is largely at the cost of the installer and with a small subsidy the cost to government is negligible! Whist the National Grid seems to be having problems with connections a subsidy for homeowners to provide batteries would make sense. I know this favours the middle class homeowners – so that is why there should be a minimum standard of insulation with subsidies where necessary, and requirements put on landlords. Renewable energy supply to the Grid is running at near 50%. The government is giving grants to fossil fuel companies whist prohibiting them from claiming claw backs for renewables from the windfall tax!

As schools are mainly open during the day – solar panels should be oblicultry – f the spelling of that! – with batteries provided they could have “free energy” – probably equivalent to one or teachers salaries, plus a huge data base for maths and science lessons!

Ozone hole appearing earlier over Antarctica could mean greater ice loss. Since 1992 sea level has risen by 2.1cm due to melt of Antarcican and Greenland ice. 2.1 cm may not seem much, but climate bigots should ask their wives if 2.1cm extra would make a difference!

Basically Corporations and Governments are playing Russian Roulette with our future. meanwhile on Earth – wildfires spread towards the Algave, temperatures in Santarem reached 46.4C, Norway and Scandinavia are suffering from landslides and heavy rain, 2 dead and 1.1m homes with no electric in US North-East, tornado warnings across 10 states from Tennessee to NY, South Korea evacuates scouts for international scout camp as a typhoon nears.

On a positive – 3 small skipper butterflies and some painted ladies on my buddlela bush surrounded by nettles and thistles. Lots of flying insects too which is great.

Always dangerous! It seems to me that the tories have trashed our communities. They are quick to say that they have put money into this and that, but by the time the corporations and their mates have had their slice there is little left. Corporations are moving into child care – this has to be wrong! Maybe a voucher scheme would work? The Tories took education away from the local communities (councils) and are now paying 6 figure sums to CEO’s of “trusts”. Was it not better to have heads supported by the local council? Now there seems to be little support – just directives and evaluation. Local parks are lacking maintenance, care homes are rip off factories. New homes are built without any concern for community support and areas. I think it was Totnes that introduced its own currency a while back. Perhaps there needs to be more of this. Perhaps a “Trust the trader.com” like public servive sites on social media?

HS2 is a case of the corporate mis management of the UK. If they had done a customer survey before allocating ridiculous amounts of money – how many would have voted for £100 billion to be able to get between London and Birmingham 30 minnutes quicker? The same is true for the Stonehenge tunnel. If people are slowing down for a look (and I admit I may have done in the past) – plant some fucking trees so it cannot be seen – and then arrange an environmentally friendly visitor centre with free parking (OH so much cheaper than the £2.4 million latest estimate). Perhaps we could even give it back to the Welsh from whom it was stolen!

Can we return local facilities to local communities please. I am sure there will be cop ups from both those on the left and right, but they will be our con ups and we will be able to vote to correct them.