Daily Mail reprints Saturdays front page and says Starmer has questions to answer. So the leader of the Government has admitted wrong doing on multiple occasions, has lied to Parliament – but the Daily Tory Mailshit leads with a story even the Sun could not make stick a year ago.
TSUNAMI
Tsunami hits Tonga after giant volcano eruption. New Zealand issues tsunami warning.
Few details at the moment but hopefully no casualties as warnings seem to have been effective.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/jan/15/tonga-tsunami-warning-as-volcano-erupts-at-sea
PIE IN THE SKY
Just read https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/jan/12/net-zero-climate-strategy-uk-government-sued.
CRISIS – OCEANS
Many people in the world have never seen the life blood of our planet. Out of sight, out of mind may apply to them, but the importance of our oceans is a rather neglected aspect of our global environment. CO2 content of the atmosphere and the greenhouse effect grab the headlines. But p17 of the Guardian reports the sixth consecutive year of hottest temperatures for oceans. Should be Front page of all papers as the Partygate thing will be forgotten by summer.
HISTORY
I was better at history at school and loved it until Mr Dear became my teacher in year 9 – basically he was a boring bully. And that that. Recently I have read several history books, some tomes and very academic, others verging on the comical. However what they all have in common is the writers interpretation of history. Neil Olivers ‘The story of the British Isles in 100 places’ is middle of the road history candy without too much sugar! But even here I find myself questioning his interpretations and I am only up to Ch17.
FARMING
I suspect that most farmers voted Brexit seeing the onerous task of form filling as too much. We are now more than 5 years since the referendum and yet have not come up with anything more than a wish list to replace CAP. CAP was perhaps the area of the EU that I personally thought needed most reform. £3 billion paid mainly to big farms (= rich farmers?). Many of the rules were eminently sensible regarding wildlife, but seem to have not made the majors impacts needed.
SOME FACTS
2017-18 more than 300 were dying daily from flu.
A&E waits are highest for 10 years.
Nurses per 1000 : UK =8.4, Germany =13.9, France =11.1
Doctors : UK=3, Germany =4.5, France =3.4, Italy =4.
Alaska had its highest ever recorded temperature of 19.4C in December, but temps this week are -29C!
Climate change deaths are over 150000 annually.
Earth is on track for an increase of 2.4C above pre-industrial levels.
There are 10967 species on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Warmer temperatures in Siberia release methane – a strong greenhouse gas into the atmosphere.
National Grid: Live status (11.55am 08.01.2022) https://grid.iamkate.com. 30% gas, 33% renewables, 15% nuclear, 3% biomas -rest from other.
BRISTOL AND PROUD
4 of the people responsible for toppling the statue of slave trader Edward Colston were found not guilty by a court in Bristol. This was despite their pursuit by Home Secretary Priti Patel who spoke to the Chief Constable of Avon and Somerset to demand action, setting a dangerous precedent of political interference in police matters.