Dear PM, stop trying to sound like a super hero and actually come up with policies. I do not want to hear about the sums of money being spent (it is possible corrupt again anyway). No I want to hear about how many charging points are being put in, how much is being given to householders to replace gas boilers, how many onshore wind farms are being built, how many public buildings are being fitted with solar panels (and no exemptions for the H~ouse of `Windsor!). In other words targets that are verifiable and real, not sums of money that can disappear in someones trouser pocket. Great graphics
CLIMATE CHANGE – ITS THE RICH WOT CAUSE IT!
It is obvious but needs stating again and again. The wealthiest 10% contribute 36-45% of emissions. The poorest 10% contribute 3-5%. The top 1% account for 50% emissions from aviation (this makes an easy target for aviation to hit targets – although the mega rich might not like the train, or a sweaty coach!).
ECONOMICS
Is just a load of statistics, and we all know that there lies, damn lies, and statistics. So is the economy doing well? GDP is up for 5th month in a row. Or badly as it is still 2.2% below pre-pandemic levels. Investment grew by 2.4% but this was 15.3%below pre-pandemic levels. Worth noting that economy was already suffering for a couple of months before the pandemic due to a slow down in China.
DELIVEROO
7.8 million active monthly users, and it does have significant rivals. Living in a rural area I tend to go and buy my annual takeaway! But the £2 million yearly income from takeaway deliveries – oh I live in a new world I do not always understand. My belief is that a take out was a treat or an emergency, now it seems to be the norm.
ALARMISM
The UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change is accused of alarmism. I should hope that alarm is what it has generated. The latest heat re old is a report of 48.8C from Italy. Fires in California, Algeria, Greece maybe partially due to poor management over the last 100 years (possibly a result of population growth in these areas), but they. have been exacerbated by the record high temperatures.
Another, contradictory comment is one about the increase in eco-refugees. Millions of people have been displaced due to climate change, and this is likely to increase exponentially over the next decades regardless of COP26. Sea level rising is a process that takes years to initiate and years to reverse (if possible?). The warming of the oceans has taken place and water will this expand. This combined with the melting of ice on Antarcticas and Greenland will raise sea level over the next century. Pacific Islands and parts of the Maldives amongst others will be gradually swamped. Plans are already being made for a new Thames Barrier, managed retreat is a reality of coastline management in many parts of the UK (and the Netherlands). Signs of stress are appearing in coral reefs which at present protect coastlines from erosion by storms.
And the decline in insects in Europe is marked. I am not sure if this is related to climate change but something is affecting the ecosystem. My garden should be a butterfly paradise with lots of different insect friendly plants in flower. Apart from a few bees, small white butterflies and occasional visits from other species it is fairly lifeless. My trip down the motorway did not result in an insect graveyard on the front as it would have done 30 years ago.
ROYAL COVER UP
Andrew is a nasty little man hiding behind privilege and favour as he has done all his life. I am sure we will never know the full account of his complicity in the sex trafficking of which Epstein was accused. The Royal Family, as it likes to be known, will use its considerable influence to ensure that his nefarious antics remain unpublished, and the details of the multi-million $ settlement are never revealed.
EXAM RESULTS
Record results for public schools, not so good for those less well off. Now is an opportune moment to assess what exams are actually for? the one size fits all model is way past its sell by date. Basically the present system is designed to ensure some students fail – there is no logic in this.
CODE RED
AFGHANISTAN
Who is funding the Taliban and why are western countries keeping quiet about it? They have fought the Americans and British for a decade or more. presumably the Russians are not providing the weapons and funding having been driven out of Afghanistan by the Taliban. The Chinese have their own issues with Muslim minorities, so it leaves Pakistan and the Middle East – of which the Middle East is likely to be providing the finance and weapons, Pakistan the home base. All but one of the bombers on 9/11 were from ~Saudi Arabia. politics sucks.
OLYMPIC FUNDING
Rowing £24.655408; Cycling £24.559.306; Athletics £23.007.531; Sailing £22.249.000; Swimming £18.731,645; Canoeing £16.344.693. Make your own minds up!