Category: Environment

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JAM

I have just made some nectarine jam – at foirst it did not set properly but hopefully another blast on the heat will do the trick. It tastes rather wonderful! I. might make some lemon thin biscuits, or scones to have it on later. I will also make some more baguettes – I will just spray a little water as the last ones were tasting a bit waterery. I have just ordered olive oil from CrowdFarming – I love the fact they pront a label with JamJam on ot for the tins and whilst just over £10 ltr is expensive it seems ok for organic and kniwing all the dosh goes straight to the farmer – in this case Finca Bardomus, Fernando Agramunt. I guess I need to make some more strawberry jam – the last lot was rubbish, did not set and I used it to flavour home made yoghurt and oat cookies. I have noticed the abscence of insects whilst making jam – which is good but a little concerning.

I have also just received a box of lemons from Carmen Valasco at El Carrascal with a winter varieties called fino and primofiori. Organic which means the zest can be used. More baking stimulated, and also aioli on salads.

Neighbour cutting grass I am hemmed in but across the road 3 neighbours have let trhe vetch flower and two have let ragwort and chicory flower, it would be so nice to see wildlife return to the sterile lawns – although I accept that some birds such as green woodpeckers and corvids like the lawns! Like everything a mix and diversity is good.

Tomatoes are coming on 670g so far but this should escalate next week as the plum tomatoes and striped ones and normal ones ripen. I think/hope 10kg should be possible this year. Most mints are doing great – basil seems to be bolting a bit (hopefully as I use more with the tomatoes, it will bush out a bit). Mints are blooming and I will dry some more to make herbal teas. Flame lily continues to astound. Lime and lemon by front door looking good. New apricot tree seems to be getting established ok and the grape vine that I thought I had killed by lack of care seems to have new leaves and forgiven me after Martin moved it to make it easier to water.

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CLIMATE CRISIS

Kerry needsd to tell the Chinese to act now to cut emissions. The arguement put forward by China about historic emmissions is just not valid in the present crisis. They are correct that the west gained an early advantage by burning coal, oil and gas, but the crisis is here, and now, and every country needs to face it.

Right wing politicians across Europe with nationalist agendas also need to look closely at their use of the climate crisis in culture wars and anti-woke measures. History will not be kind to them.

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WHAT IS THE POINT

of politicians? The seas are at record high temperatures, Greece and Spaon have huge fires, temperatures in China exceed 50C and in southern Europe and the USA heat warnings are issued. And our government is passing laws to make it illegql to walk slowly with prison sentences. It is like Westminster and certainly Downing Street have become lunatic asylums! There is no hope of a vaccine or a quick fix to solve the problem, and the jabbering idiots do nothing, except allow water companies to fill rivers and the seas with shit in case we thought we could get a quick cooling dip. It is CRIMINAL INEPTITUDE.

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SEA TEMPERATURES

Forget the “Heat bomb” in Mediterranean Europe, it is the unprecedented sea temperatures that are of the greatest concern together with the lowest amount of Antarctic sea ice ever recorded. Whilst I am super critical of this government for just about everything, Starmer’s Labour Party is looking to be no better when it comes to climate change. Starmer talks about economic growth at every opportunity. Even with greater emphasis on green investment ‘Growth’ equals more CO2 and other pollutants in the atmosphere. Surely a Labour Party should be talking about greater social equity? There is enough wealth in society for everyone to be more than comfortable. Public sector pay should be pegged to a multiple of the basic wage in the sector – the arguement that Council leaders are responsible for a multi million 3 business does not hold up when most of the expenditure has been sub-contracted. How many in the health service earn more than the PM? University leaders are on ridiculous money. Of they are that good let them move to the private sector and increase efficiency there! Increase in applicants in the private sector should also reduce top wages?

Could Labour also reduce the tax allowance on share dealing? A ‘Robin Hood Tax’ on transactions in the city would also help public sectors.

Elon Musk entering the electricty generation market and Dale Vince starting an airline – both could disrupt the status quo for the sectors involved to the benfit of the environment

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WEATHER

Southern Europe reaches temperatures of 48C, over 100 million Ameriacns are faced with temperature warnings next week with temperatures in the 40C’s. India and China are also. facing record temperatures.

Whilst the UK is experiencing a run of depressions bringing rain to most parts, I would love to know what the government plans are for a heat wave? With COVID everything was reactive rather than proactive! Will we have to wait for bodies to be piled up outside hospitals before action is taken. What plans are there for street sprays, opening up museums and libraries with air con. Or will the government give inflated grants to friends who purport to set up electric fan companies? What plans are there to limit petrol/deisel engines? What plans to support fire and ambulance services?

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ENVIRONMENT VERSUS CULTURE WAR

With no policies and no clue Shapps tries the culture war thinbg on Labour stating that they are funded by “Just stop oil”. Whilst this is a blatant lie that any 10 year old would spot, it goers down well with the deranged readers of the media trash. Already they have claimed that supporting green energy would add hundreds to energy bills. Tjey never mention the cost of not supporting it. The UK is one of the most gas reliant countries in Europe and therefore one of the most susceptable to price fluctuations (and we have seen how the free market for mortgages has impacted on many). Allowing easier planning for onshore wind would be an immediate benefit.

All new housing should be fitted with south facing solar panels and double insolation.

All urban areas should have a tree planting policy to amealorate future temperature fluctuations. Water companies should provide discounts for water butts, car parks should be latticed to encourage infiltration, and where appropriate be covered with solar panels.

And I repeat my call for news programmes to include a section on the climate crisis and daily updates on proportion of green energy produced every day. How aboutr a “Tomorrow’s Green World” similar to the 1970’s innovation programme.

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CLIMATE WARNINGS

To be honest – how fucking serious does it need to get? Last year 61672 people died from the heat wave. At present temperatures in Scicily are reaching 45C and more. In Greece authorities are opening air conditioned spaces for people. Germany, France and Poland are also experiencing high temperatures. India is experiencing high temperatures and record floods.

OurGovernment is opening up coalmines and oil wells. Not a brain cell in sight! I think they have replaced them with £ signs.

If and I hope itr is an if rather than a when! we get a heat wave that breakes records – what planning has the government done? None other than allowing water companies to impose a hosepipe ban. Temperatures like those in Southern Europe and western Canada last year coulkd make Sop Oil Protests look both pathetic (in size )and prophetic.

https://grid.iamkate.com

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NASTY PEOPLE

Jenrick is trying to be nastier than Braverman whilstLocal Government Minister, Lee Rowley told S.Cambridgeshire District Council to stop an experiment with a 4 day week immediately. Evidence provided by the secretly funded right wing numbskull tank, Tax Payers Alliance suggested an unjustified cost of £30bn. These people seem to hate any signs of improving peoples lifestyles. Evidence suggests better job retention and efficiencies. As James Nash, leader of Bassetlaw District Council said “It is not for the government to say that you must work a 5 day week”. Little creep Gove disagrees and says people must work a 5 day week. It is after all only an experiment. The same people would have complained about the abolishment of the 6 day week and paid holidays.

The railways are also getting a backnash from plans to cut ticket offices., Mean while the Government has failed to comment on the fact that South East Water spent £232mill on dividends(£162m) and interest repayments over the last 2 years, but only £179.8m on upgrading the infrastructure. Nationalised public service companies working for investors not the public.

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CLIMATE

Today is forecast to be quyte warm,25C here and 30C in London. Nothing like the temperatures being experienced in China where temperatures in Beijing have exceeded 35C for 14 consecutive days. Torrential rain has also hit many areas with at least 15 deaths in the floods. With El Nino looming we can expect more “biblical” disasters this year and an increase in environmental migrants.

Yet the government is talking about abandoning net zero targets, along with the environmental diversity ones already being missed. With Braverman becoming ever more beligerent and the growth of a Fortress UK mentality I fear for my grandchildren.Will they see the wonderous sights I have? The kingfisher hovering above a lake in Devon, Adonis Blue butterflies on the South Downs, Dolphins whilst crossing the Tagus by Lisbon, Arctic terns on the beach at Seaford. All little things but very memorable to me. With to present government we will continue to use petrochemicals and pollute the environment, put off energy efficiences in housing and permit tye use of harmful agri-chemicals.

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ENVIRONMENT

The Mail has got Dorries to. slag off electric cars – basically fuck the environment, lets use up oil and gas and pretend that the sea ice around Antarctica is not melting or that sea temperatures around Britain are not at record highs. And Tessla anounce a record 466000 cars sold worldwide in the last 3 months. Whatever MadNads complaints the government needs to up the number of charging points and increase generation of clean electricity. A trade in scheme for old deisel cars would be good. It is all part of the culture wars theme – it is almost an anti-young war, after all the young are the most concerned about the environment.