TORNADO – USA

Over 100 people may have been killed as a series of tornados that have hit the southern states of Kentucky, Illinois, Tennessee, Missouri and Arkansas. The death toll is amongst the highest recorded.

ELECTRICITY

If I am interpreting this graph correctly – more than half the electricity we produce is ‘Conversion, Transmission and distribution losses? Surely this could be made more efficient? More local electricity generation? Although the National Grid are spending billions to connect up with new Hinkley Point.

page2image3328789312

WINDFARMS

The Norfolk Boreas Windfarm is likely to get the go ahead despite major concerns regarding its impact on endangered sea birds. As with all changes caution needs to be exercised. Windfarms have a reasonably footloose locational demand, therefore it may not be necessary for that exact location. The impact on birds has been known for decades, I think a wind farm in Gibraltar had to close 20 years ago due to its impact on raptors.

SEALS

Numbers of seals born in the Frame Islands this year are predicted to be higher than previous recent years. I know there are no predators (although I believe a wandering orca may have been seen in the past). Can I be positive here and assume that despite a morality rate of 50%, there must be plenty of food available? And if so presumably some of our sea birds will also have done well this summer. We need good news after yesterdays news about the number of formerly common birds being moved to the red list, swifts, greenfinches, house martins and Berwick swans.

WATERGATE UK STYLE

An industry is privatised, although there can be no competition, and investors guaranteed above inflation dividends. The supposed watchdog turns a blind eye to lack of proper investment. So in the last 11 years investors have received £11.9 billion in dividends.

WEATHER

What is going on? The Express and Star and Mirror have all reported expected snow and temps down to -10C by the end of the month. However the forecast for the South-West as far as I can read it, is cold nights with possible frosts, probably in rural areas, bright sunny or at least dull days with little precipitation.