Category: Environment

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FOOD

Food inflation of 19% does not affect the rich. It is the poor who find that reserves of carefully maintained savings are eaten away, luxuries abstained, even small pleasures like a 6 monthly visit to a cinema or restaurant forsaken. And what does the government do – as usual absolutely nothing. It is obvious to all (apart from JR-M and co) that Brexit has broken the system. Other world events such as Ukraine and climate change have also had an impact. However the policy of blame does not solve the problem. A friend who supplies shops with crisps says that demand has soared recently, at the same time a local food bank refused to take potatoes as they would “go off”!

Mire expensive food drives the demand for quality down, and thus the cost to the NHS up. This is a full blown crisis that should reslut in a COBRA meeting to bring all relevant parties to sit around a table and thrash out a sustainable future.

My invite list would include NFU,organic farming reps, food manufacturers, Jamie Oliver, Marcus Rashford, McDonalds (or similar), NHS nutritionists and clinicians. I am sure there are others worthy of inclusion. Perhaps on the supply chain issues?

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LOW TRAFFIC NEIGHBOURHOODS

These and the ULEZ’s cause much consternation amongst the ignorati of some drivers. The belief that they shoukd be able to drive anywhere and at any time is possibly down to small penis syndrome, or some deep psychological problem in their past. Basically the motor vehicle is a tool to get from A to B. It is not a symbol of virility or status. Human welfare comes before the use of tools. Airports are correctly restricted with night time flights. It is also not just the noise but the fumes and danger. We suffer as a nation from the lack of play space for children in cities. Pavements are often invaded by vehicles. Councils should plant more trees, abandon one way systems (the ignorati will soon confront each other with their bigotry.

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CITIES

When the government abolished the GLC it thought it was a money saving (and anti-Labour thing. However it lost the opportunity to plan for the future in a wholistic manner. transport for London may be able to plan the transport element reasonably successfully but what about the rest? A report today outlines the fall in student numbers across the inner boroughs. Demography and socio-econmoc geography has obviously been ignored in favour of free market economics. Schools are being shut and turned into flats for the wealthy.

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ROSEBANK

So the sponeless and spiteful government is about to give permission for 500 million barrels of oil to be extracted from the Rosebank Oilfield in the North Sea, Thus we can see how the oil companies control our government. Ignore the welfare of our children and grandchildren and the planet – profit is more important. They will conjure up the same old story of energy security needs. What we desperately need is reduced consumption, not just of oil but across the board. Any manufactire of single use plastic should be taxed. VAT on premium long lasting products should be cut – thus bringing them into the price range of poorer members of society. Products should be made to last.

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ENERGY

Government reveals true colours on energy. i.e. It will do nothing other than set meaningless targets as it knows it is unlikely to be in power for much longer. Unproven carbon storage (but backed by oil companies) and hydrogen (ditto) are promoted as are small scale nuclear (whatever that means!). Onshore wind farms are not given the go ahead, no thought given to increasing National Grid capacity and farming was completely ignored. Nothing about reduced consumption or efficiencies. No Vision, No Plan, No Hope.

Around about 1970 there was a design shop in central London promoting the best of British Design, on TV we had “Tomorrows World”. Now we have nothing – zilch.

Government should be fasciltating innovation, encouraging investment via tax breaks (with a 10% stake in the company belonging to the nation, and providing seed funding (with larger stakes belonging to the nation).

An Idea – why not make motorways lorry only between 0100 and 0500 – sorry lorry drivers – but they could have quicker journeys and thus shorter working hours. They could use all 3 lanes (where available) and it would cut journey times of cars during the rest of the day. Car owners who do not like it could catch a train? Ot could be trialed on main motorways first like M1,2,3,4,5,6, 25 and A1(M).

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REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE

A recent report regarding the deep sea mining of essential minerals will play havoc with the marine ecosystem. Electric cars and wind turbines and computers need these minerals. The petrochemical companies must welcome this report as it diverts attention from what they have done to the atmosphere. Agrochemical/agriindustrial companies are doing the same to. our land. Does the human beings captacious greed and stupidity know no bounds?

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CLIMATE CHANGE – we need action now, not appeasement.

The media will be awash with Johnson and Partygate. In the real world climate change seems to be accelerating. Governments are idle. Macron – raising retirement age to 64 will not stop the sea level rise. Sunak – stop giving the rich more money and tax their planes out of existence. Biden – halt the oil drilling.

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COTON ORCHARD

1000 fruit trees to be cut down by Cambridgeshire CC for a new road – madness. Road to cost £160 million – just ban cars from the city and use existing roads just for buses and bikes and pedestrians.

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WILD ISLES

BBC censor national treasure Sir David Attenborough’s latest series. The Telegraph complains about partial sponsorship by WWF and RSPB (2 charities previously criticised for their political lobbying), and the BBC has pulled the episode which themes the destruction of nature because of a fear of a backlash from Right Wing Politicans and the RW Press. BBC is also cancellinng Autumn watch. How dare they question the integrity of Sir David Attenborough to pander to the ERG!

Is this the end, or the begining of the end, of free speech in this country. Gary Lineker was 100% correct but was criticised in Parliament andd by a Shadow Minister from Labour. What does Labour stand for? Yes people care about the economy and prices – but deep down we are, or were, proud of our democracy and freedoms.

On last nights “The last leg” the presenter read out a vile message he had just received on social media – the government and its lies and cruel rhetoric emboldens these morons!

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UN TREATY TO PROTECT THE HIGH SEAS

After long debates over a decade a treaty has been agreed – it needs something like 60 signatures before it becomes international law (I think I read?). The so called 30/30 policy to conserve 30% of the Oceans by 2030 is politicans playing the numbers game! I guess that 70% of the worlds oceans could be put into a conservation zone with no benefit to the ecosystem. With it being estimated that the weight of plastic in the ocean will exceed the weight of fish by 2030. It is time to act to save our planet.