Category: Geography

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ENERGY

National Grid Live Status shows that we are still very dependant on fossil fuels, especially at this time of year. We have become reliant on wind for renewable energy and not done enough to develop solar. As ever I am the worst sort of commentator as I have limited knowledge which may be worse than no knowledge!

Cutting demand is an obvious partial solution. Solar panels on all possible sites of offices and educational establishments that operate mainly in daylight is a no brainer. Governments and investors of all persuasions seem fixated on the large scale projects. Would lots of small scale projects undermine the privatised National Grid? I am surprised at the lack of HEP – water powered this country for centuries. Re-instated mill ponds would surely bring environmental benefits.

The stats show the continuing importance of nuclear power. I am cautious with Windscale, Three Mile Island, Fukushima, Chernobyl all in my memory, and we do not seem to have solved the nuclear waste problem. However, needs must. At this time of year we need an alternative that does not exacerbate climate change. The £13 billion pound cost of increasing the nuclear component from 16% to 25% it to passed onto the public. I am not sure the free market economy is working too well in this market. We have seen the privatised energy companies make huge profits (and the huge fossil fuel companies), whilst little has been done to help the poorest in our society. (I was fortunate to have been born with the benefits derived from a socialist government. The gap between rich and poor was still too large, but has grown exponentially recently). The current capitalist model is broke.

Apparently Tory MP’s with rural constituencies are opposed to relaxing planning rules for onshore wind farms. I suspect that 90% of people living in villages do not give a shit, it is the wealthy landowners they are talking about. I am sure the Daily Mail or Telegraph can run a spurious story linking wind turbines to cancer!

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READY OR NOT?

We have the luxury of the warmest March for a century. What plans do the government have in place for a heat wave this summer? Not just a tabloid dream with bikini’s but a Western North America 2021 event. Temperatures in the 40C range? The EU has made plans – I have not heard of any here?

Is it likely? I would guess a 1 in 3 chances enough for the government to put plans in place – rather than plead ‘unprecedented’, unpredictable’ before paying out millions to mates for water sprays!

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GLOBAL WARMING

Temperatures 30-40C above normal have been recorded in both Arctic and Antarctic. And yet some MP’s are campaigning for an end to the Governments pledge to achieve Net Zero by 2050. This is basically treasonable! Besides which the date should be 2025 anyway.

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FOOTBALL

My predictions for going down are Norwich, Watford and Brentford. Although Everton might be rather nervous. Burnley have the grit about them, but are certainly at risk. Top 4 seem sort of sorted – ManC, Liverpool for title then Arsenal and Chelsea. Spurs or WHU could make a late challenge for Champions League place but I think ManU have something missing!

Of the middle table clubs – who knows? Who wants to travel to Eastern Europe for the Europa League in August? Wolves, Aston Villa, Leics, S’hpton, CPalace seem safe enough and just playing for fun? Brighton and the bar stripes should be ok.

Championship – Fulham still looking a safe bet – but my selection of Bournemouth is still ok! 3rd place subject to play offs is still open to the next 7 or 8.

Div1 – Wigan, MK Dons and Plymouth seem on fire at the moment with Rotherham in the lead. Sunderland do not have the quality but with a play off place and their crowd who knows.

Div2 – What is happening at FGR? Bristol Rovers and Newport on the charge.

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P&O

DP World made $453 million profit last year. It has just sacked 800 employees by zoom and has coach loads of foreign crew waiting to replace them. Security guards are also poised to take occupying staff off the boats by force if necessary.

Easy answer – nationalise the company with no compensation. They say they are making a loss anyway. No one should treat its workers like this. We are living in the 21st century not the 18th (Sleaze-Dogg please note). BREXIT strikes again.

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PROPERTY

Recent behaviour by the government and the police (arguably agents of the government) has shown very clearly that property is valued more than people.

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ENERGY

Options –

Continue to buy on the open market and be subject to the fluctuations of the market.

Fracking – called for by Tory Climate Deniers must surely be dismissed as unsafe and impractical besides taking a long time to bring to fruition.

Nuclear – probably makes sense for a 20-30% role – but is horrifically expensive and the time to bring new stations on stream is probably decades.

Renewables – could be the quickest option – although those in the Chilterns will be choking on their smoked salmon if planning rules for land based wind farms goes ahead. Could they not be sited by pylons? Problem is storage although a combination of solar and wind should cover most weather eventualities.

Cutting demand is the quickest of all – insulation of all buildings where practical should be mandatory for all property owners (landlords note). Rolling out electric vehicles could be speeded up although imposing 50 or 60mph on all roads would be fast and practical. I am sure road haulage firms are looking at their distribution networks. Would use of freight trains be practical with computer booking.

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UKRAINE

A Russian Official says boats taking weapons to the Ukraine will be legitimate targets. I am all for diplomacy and negotiation – but there comes a point where Putin understands that what we provide to a ‘free’ sovereign nation is none of his business. He needs to be aware that his navy will suddenly become a lot smaller if he tries it on. The millions fleeing his attempted genocide cannot be ignored. But read on for a counter argument.

It is estimated that losses to his invasion force are between 5-10% in terms of troops and equipment. His economy is being trashed. It is important not to escalate, but one also needs to stand up to tyrants and bullies. It is interesting that both sides are avoiding using their air forces as it seems that anti-aircraft systems have the upper hand. The Russians are bombing at night apparently.

I am sure military historians will be able to quote many situations where defending populations were left to their own devices (Was Warsaw in WW2 an example?).

Mean while the Russian Embassy is moving to 10 Downing Street, oligarchs are selling their houses in London with a score or more up for sale.

Of course all the above is based on my believing the narrative coming from the West. This narrative is not universally accepted – or 100% approved. Has NATO pushed too hard against the boundaries of Russia? I personally do not think so as past Russian atrocities in Chechnya, Syria and elsewhere show an intent by Putin to be the strongman! However it would be disingenuous to suggest that the USA and NATO have been without blame. The wars on Iraq and Libya, the acquiescence with the Saudi led war on Yemen all need critical evaluation.

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COVID

I have not posted on this for a while. However there are some concerning statistics coming out. Locally in N.Somerset positive cases are up 72.5%, patients admitted up 37.4%, but deaths down 33% to 2. So how does one analyse this? I suppose I do not know the criteria for stating hospital admissions are up? Nationally there has been an increase in over 60’s developing the virus and a 4th injection is proposed for me!

I know there is other stuff going on – but maybe we should not turn a blind eye?