Democracy cn be very nice – candidates have to say the right things, and every few years there is an opportunity to ditch them. this is the problem. Some problems can be solved reasonably quickly – even Covid? But others require decades or longer.
LA LA LAND
COVID
CLIMATE CHANGE
A government blueprint for changing public behaviour was withdrawn because Johnson did not like it because it contradicted the lies and bullshit he pronounced earlier.
BREXIT – TRADE DEAL
Government unveils a historic trade deal with New Zealand that will cut the price of kiwi fruit and Manuka Honey. Is is historic because it is estimated to add nothing to our GDP?
COVID
Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng says now is not the time to turn to the government’s winter back-up strategy. Why? On what health grounds does he base his views? Wearing a mask costs nothing you bozo! keeping social distancing is sensible you bozo! Is ‘will it make Johnson more or less popular’ the only offing criteria nowadays?
ECONOMICS
The Government is to provide £5000 grants to 90000 households to install heat pumps. It hopes the cost of the pumps will come down with increased sales. Firstly there should be a subsidy to reflect the energy produced and thus reducing the need for massive public investment in new power stations. Secondly what is to stop the manufacturers of heat pumps to increase their wages and bonus’ in line with increased sales. Surely it would be better for government to take a share in these companies and use the investment to increase production and efficiency? The tax payer would get a return and ultimately the company could be sold. I am sure the Government could also offset the investment so it was not listed as an expenditure, thus appeasing the Treasury.
POLITICAL WILL
EARTHSHOT – £1million each
The winners
Protect and Restore Nature:
- The Republic of Costa Rica: Costa Rica was a country that once cleared most of its forests, but it has now doubled the number of trees and is seen as a role model for others to follow. The winning project is a scheme paying local citizens to restore natural ecosystems that has led to a revival of the rainforest
Clean our Air:
- Takachar, India: A portable machine created to turn agricultural waste into fertiliser so that farmers do not burn their fields and cause air pollution
Revive our Oceans:
- Coral Vita, Bahamas: A project run by two best friends who are growing coral in the Bahamas, designed to restore the world’s dying coral reefs. Using special tanks, they have developed a way to grow coral up to 50 times faster than they normally take in nature
Build a Waste-Free World:
- The City of Milan Food Waste Hubs, Italy: Another challenge is waste – and the city of Milan in Italy wins a prize for collecting unused food and giving it to people who need it most. The initiative has dramatically cut waste while tackling hunger
Fix our Climate:
- AEM Electrolyser, Thailand/Germany/Italy: A clever design in Thailand using renewable energy to make hydrogen by splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen. Hydrogen is a clean gas but it is usually produced by burning fossil fuels