UK to send long range missiles to Ukraine, Russia says it will respond. I cannot comment objectively on this as I am not au fait with the situation – I just hope they know what they are doing! Truss off to stir the hornets nest in Taiwan. UK has launched a proposed ‘Pioneer Programme’ should talks with the EU fail – is this a bit like setting up your own football team after being expelled from the main leagues (pointless!).
ODDS AND BETTING
Would you cross a road with a 0.01% chance of beingf killed? Latest ocean temperatures are surprising scientists by rising much faster than predicted.
ALARMS
Despite 10 years of planning and a 7 figure cost this Government could not get the warning out to all. Those did get it found that the arrival varied by at least 12 minutes – a long time in an emergency. Assuming that those with 4 or 5 G coverage will get the warning, a more important question is what plans are in place for those who for whatever reason do not have a mobile phone? It appears none!
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.
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.