Category: Geography

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CLIMATE WARNINGS

To be honest – how fucking serious does it need to get? Last year 61672 people died from the heat wave. At present temperatures in Scicily are reaching 45C and more. In Greece authorities are opening air conditioned spaces for people. Germany, France and Poland are also experiencing high temperatures. India is experiencing high temperatures and record floods.

OurGovernment is opening up coalmines and oil wells. Not a brain cell in sight! I think they have replaced them with £ signs.

If and I hope itr is an if rather than a when! we get a heat wave that breakes records – what planning has the government done? None other than allowing water companies to impose a hosepipe ban. Temperatures like those in Southern Europe and western Canada last year coulkd make Sop Oil Protests look both pathetic (in size )and prophetic.

https://grid.iamkate.com

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GLASTONBURY

Is it the right wing press or a British obsession to run down anything that is successful and free from the established way of doing things? Glastonbury – a festival which is basically enjoyed (at a cost of £335 per head) by 200000 people, is being criticised for its too middle class white audience and its too male biased lead artists. If this criticism came from the left I would understand, but the right are desperately trying to provoke culture wars. Several papers have reiterated complaints that chips cost £8. Firstly why did they not take somne containers with sandwichws and salad? Were there no rip off food vans during the Coronation? I do know that Eavis tries to moderate costs – so maybe the complainants should have shopped around a bit?

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WEATHER

The dry spell continues, my 350ltrs of water butts have nearly run dry. But some floods around with convectional storms. Do planning authorities and the water boards actually have any AI – no not artificial intelligence – but AI – actual intelligence. Covering green sites with concrete reduces infiltration, increases convection and temperatures, speeds up runoff. We need urban planting, replacing impermeable surfaces like parking spaces with permeable grids, more street trees and roof gardens. It is common sense

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CLIMATE CHANGE

Imola Gran Prix cancelled due to flooding that has killed at least 6 people. Cyclone Mocha hits Myanmar causing dozens of deaths, floods hit Auckland, wildfires across Alberta,Canada. Drought affecting food production in the Mediterranean region. The climate crisis is set to get worse as scientists expect record highs earlier than predicted, perhaps due to ocean heating.

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AROUND THE WORLD

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!).

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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!

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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.