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.
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.
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.
POPULATION
Latest population prediction from the Club of Rome is that the world population will peak at 8.8 billion and thenstart to fall rapidly. This is more positive than previous estimates, and certainly better than the 10 billion estimates that were projected a few years back. The environment and wildlife might recover, however the growing consumption of humans will continue to be a problem. As will our inability to face up to climate change.
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.
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.
POPULATION DEMOGRAPHICS
The UK should be actively planning for the situation now unfolding in South Korea. The fertility rate there is now below 1 at 0.78 (replacement level is 2.1). Having less children and having them later (average is 33.5) allcontributes to an ageing population with huge implications for the economy, pensions, care system, and health services. Japan is also having to face a similar, if less rapid decline. Europe also has fertility rates below 2.1.
UKRAINE
Biden has visited. But China may supply Russia with military aid. China may need the money which Russia could pay? But it would be an escalation as it would almost certainly prompt the USA or NATO to provide planes and weapons. Whether China wants this escalation when its own economy is not booming and civil unrest seems to be growing. Putin is due to make a key speech today to rally support. India also seems to be supporting Russia. The diplomatic game continues. Is anyone trying to negotiate a ceasefire and talks? Compromise will be difficult for both sides, but will have to happen eventually.
CITIES
Before the Industrial Revolution mist people lived in rural communities and were largely self sufficient. Life expectancy was 40’ish. Things then changed. People moved from the countryside as mechanisation took place and factories needed labour. In Manchester by 1825 the life expectancy was 26! However medical science and hygiene soon won out and life expectancy is now about 78.
The driving force of needing labour in factories, shops, offices is receding fast. Home working, internet, online shopping all make the need for cities less relevant. In the countryside we have vast tracts occupied by the upper class with low population density. Farms that are managed on a macro style for profit may become less prevalent as the demand for quality and organic grows. Intensive farming of e.g. chickens is thought to be behind outbreaks of bird flu and other pathogens that have the ability to transform in to hazards for mammals.
We are seeing a growth in village sizes as people opt for a quieter, cleaner lifestyle. This however creates a problem as people seem to “want is all and want it now” lifestyle. This involves travelling far and wide and often for their visceral pleasure. How many people will spend their whole life without seeing a kingfisher or tern, the sound of a cuckoo, the scent of wild garlic in a bluebell wood?
Back to the topic. Our cities are declining in the services they provide. Food shopping is based on the outskirts. Clothing sales are often online and the city centre, once a hub of retail activity are often a dull series of tattoo parlours, betting shops, chain cafes, charity shops and discount stores serving those who live in the city and cannot afford the escape.
So the poor are stuck in the city, and its vibrancy and entertainment facilities will still attract the young adults. It will still have a function. Will there be a need for office blocks in the future – it seems unlikely. The fact that it is the young that will be attracted means that it will be at the forefront of innovation, as long as they are not starved of funds. Universities will thrive in the urban landscape of the future, with their ability to bring people of specific talent together.
The balance of inputs and outputs between cities and rural areas will change. The carbon footprint of cities will be reduced? Is this a wishful thought? Can we go back to the situation when every city was surrounded by market gardens and orchards? The globalised world took us over and offered cheap produce for a long time. Cities will always need to pay over the odds for utilities and disposal.
The hold that companies like Coca-cola and Google and Amazon have over us will change (Google shares lost $170billion last week, Tesla similar amounts.). Will the government change the basic rules to support local industries and start ups? The present one seems to be intent on wealth growth for the rich.
So my theory is that the growth of cities was predicated on the Industrial Revolution, and we will see counter urbanisation on a large scale. This will however have to be matched by demographic change (less people) and economic change with MNC’s losing their tax breaks.
WIND TURBINES
A deprived area of Bristol (Lawrence Weston) will soon have a huge wind turbine which should generate approx £100.000 a year to the local community. The community raised the cost and got some grants to help. The question is – why is this not happening everywhere? Energy company profits (generated solely in the UK) would pay for thousands of such schemes. The big companies and National Grid will not allow this to happen as it would stop their mega profits. It would not be practical everywhere, but community run schemes could cut our dependancy on fossil fuels rapidly, and cut energy bills too.