Category: Changinging climate

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ELECTION EARTHQUAKES

Two right wing parties have been defeated in what can be fairly stated to be political earthquakes. Firstly in Brazil where President Lula defeated the former presidents son (the father is in jail for plotting a coup attempt), this was a turn around as Bolsonaro was in the lead after the initial vote. This is good news for the environment as Bolsonaro was planing to free up development if the Amazon rainforest. The second quake was in Serbia where the ruling right wing party led by Vucic were defeated by a newly formed student led party. Serbia has been a stalwart of right wing politics for years so this move is a shock. Also in world news Maria Corina Machaado has returned to Venezuela, a move opposed by Trump despite her giving him her Nobel Peace Prize Medal! Trump has imposed Rodriguez on Venezuela, which is now seen as a US Protectorate.

At home Storm Boelo battered northern parts of the UK leaving 82000 properties without power – so the governments advice to stock up (mainly dune to protect emergency crews from calls where people could have easily helped themselves) was prescient. The press are getting angsty about calls for an honest discussion with regards to our relationship with the EU. I guess it is the call for an honest debate on the relationship that has them in a panic. The honest part has them floored- honesty does not sell newspapers or support the right wing, who are dependant on lies and fallacies. Immigrants are essential to our economy and employment. Rejoining the EU is probably unlikely as he EU would/should not commit to full membership with swathes of the British electorate in thrall to Farage and his gangster party.

The Bayeux Tapestry is proving to be to be extremely popular – even with £33 for adult peak time tickets – I hope the British Museum makes loads of money from this venture. Oxford Street to be pedestrianised – no doubt the RW will be incandescent with rage about the affront to drivers, but it seems sensible that shopping in Britains premier shopping district should be free of polluting hazards and traffic – well done Mayor Khan. Papers, including the Guardian, have been trying to undermine the work done by Burnham, as mayor of Manchester, in attracting foreign investment in the city, mainly due to the UAE investing in Manchester City. Is Manchester a better place to live now? Of course the £2billion invested has ruffled a few feathers but it has also undoubtably improved the city.

The government is putting money into a feasibility study for a bid to host the Olympics in the north of England in the 2040’s – brilliant idea. Obama has slated Trump in a speech where he called Trump the most self enriching and selling favours for his benefit and his families. Reform is dealing with more dire news – a candidate filmed offering to hire a hitman to kill, dick pics – people actually voted for this filth.

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NEXT WEEK

We will find out the truth with the budget, after weeks of the RWP attempts to second guess it, and raise angst and concerns with blatant fictionalisation we will get the truth. After basically 15 years of Conservative incompetance and corruption, and then 2 years of Starmer (a tory boy without the dodgy dealings of his 5 or so predecessors, we now have a chance for radical change – here is not a lot of spare cash to play with, so the Chancellor will need to be radical., at least shining a torch in the direction of a brighter future.

Today is a lovely autumn day here in North Somerset with the sun shine of the leaves that are rapidly turning to oragne and gold, the wind is a bit fresh, but this is a perfect lie October day.

Apparently Musk has being playing God regarding Ukraine and after allowing a few Russian missiles to get through and kill children he has reinstated the computer links. How the west enabled one person to accumulate the wealth and the power is both nonsensible and frightening.

The UK is also doing well at the AI security game, it has set up regulatory frameworks and invested a few hundred million £ in development – where were the Tory politicians when required? Too busy lining there own pockets? The sale of wind-up radios has soared following the government announcement last week, I admit that I checked a torch had battery life and have stocked up on anchovies, mussels and cockles! i do like to taste my food!

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STORM BOELO

I am addicted to the weather – The MetOffice latest yellow warning was not issued until 9.05am toady for 11am – not a lot of warning there, however a look out of the window would have served jus as well! it now looks as if we will have heavy rain for 9 hours and then some more on Monday for 5 hours. People in flood areas need to stock up, despite the Mail decrying the ‘nanny state’ it is plain common sense for everyone to ensure they have a stock of food and water. i guess some people are reliant on takeaways? The Governments recommendation that we all stock up is way behind other countries that have had recommendations for years – maybe the Mail is just mightily embarrassed that 15 years of Tory chaos did not do this, The main task is to get the overprividged wankers away from the emergency services, we should all be able to cope for a few days, and the emergency services should be able to concentrate on real need, not the wishes of the unprepared. PS. I must get batteries for thee torch.

A quiz in the i Paper today asked who was the grandmother of Jesus! Was this a trick question? if JC was the son of god how could he have a grandmother? I am fairly sure I know about conception, not so great on contraception obviously ! Did God have a mum and dad?- that would make a great film.

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JACKDAW

So Labour are going ahead and giving the OK to the Jackdaw gas field which will provide 2% of our gas. in an uncertain world this could be a sensible choice, especially if the taxes gained are used to speed up our reduced dependance on fossil fuels. I know that the field will increase global warming, but our dependance on gas will not disappear for a few decades. With Trumps capricious behaviour, wars in Ukraine and the Middle East (the illegal war has already spread to neighbouring countries) and the volatile nature of supply and price it makes some sense. The price we pay will not be reduced but Jackdaw will provide a small guarantee regarding supply. We must accelerate insulation and solar panels and heat pumps , I keep hearing contradictory comments regarding the latter, yet most of Scandinavia has them? Whether Rosebank Oil Field will be/ should be, approved is debateable but I guess the same arguments apply. The government now needs to ensure that new wind farms and solar panels are rolled out as fast as possible, and the National grid upgraded asap to ensure that we have the alternative energy.

The Covid inquiry has basically called Matt Hancock a liar and a charatan, and by association Boris BJ Johnson. The ‘protective ring’ was a fallacy that led to many deaths and stress amongst care workers. I have friends who maintain that Boris did the best he could in an unprecidented epidemic – I do not agree with them. The government at that time was all about money – not shutting down until it was basically too late; giving out contacts for PPE that were blatently ripoffs, and then lying about parties in Downing Street. Burnham has said the present government will learn from the mistakes.

Meanwhile the UK has done a deal with Saudi Arabia to protect it from Houti missile attack – I hope the deal was a good one for the UK as it will make it more liable for terrorist attacks. Again though it makes sense to protect vital supply lines of oil and gas (until we manage to cope without). Hmmm I seem to be in a very conciliatory mood today!

Maybe Storm Austin will bring some much needed rain to South-West England, we need it, but more importantly, a long term strategy to ensure we are neither engulfed or in a drought situation. It looks like we could have rain on and off for the next week.

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CANADA

The oil rich state of Alberta seems to have voted strongly to remain part of Canada, whilst initial polls seem to be in favour of restricted immigration. A positive outcome that has the bonus of upsetting Trump.

Riots in France reveal the dangers of allowing dangerous demonstrations to develop into full scale riots. This applieds to both left and right wing demonstrations (although the Fascists seem to be organising for for more violence). Every right minded person should come out and support the police, they have a very difficult task of marrying the right to protest, and ensuring that laws are not broken. So first off I would make it illegal to wear a face covering during a demonstration and allow the police to declare an emergency with minimum fuss – maybe getting a judge or two to allow it?

Budget next week and the Chancellor is being hounded by the press. The economy, despite Iran and Ukraine is doing OK, but borrowing costs across the world are rising making the debt burden inherited from the Tories, difficult. Large demonstrations in Spain indicate a need for rent controls, especially for old and young. Burnham has announced a need for a cap on parking fees, but he needs to do a lot more. The cost of social benefits is too high, yet childhood poverty is a major hindrance to economic growth and productivity. The need for a dialectic decision is paramount, but cannot be reached whilst politicians from all sides remain dogmatic (I would prefer to use the word bigoted).

We have an ageing population and the care home situation is dire, previous PM’s including BJ Boris have tried and failed to find a solution, whatever it is will be expensive. Efforts to find employment for NEETs may take a carrot and stick approach, A mother of 3 young children can get more in benefits than a manager of a business with a dozen employees. Maybe a way of rewarding regular rent payments and enabling a share of profits on a sale, or new rental agreement would make people more invested in their homes, encourage improvements – basically I am bullshitting now so I will shut up.

So Reform are upset about the ITV expose, blaming journalists for stting up ‘stings’ to allow candidates and member to make comments that are appalling. Ever the case of blame the messenger rather than the people at fault – Farage is now floundering, he will soon be left with a rabble of violent nutters split between his party and Restore/Repulsive. This will comprise of about 15% of voters who are either innumerate, illiterate and violent paedophiles/misogynists or all three. Badenoch is courting the knuckle draggers – and is performing abysmally at PMQ’s – but at least the Tories look like holding steady, rather than being swept aside by the tide of fascism. She may have gone too far right for her core supporters though. Thames Water rears its head again, my initial reaction is to tell American hedge fund to fuck off and take the loss, but I accept the government may need to be subtle before telling the hedge funds just that. Politics is a difficult game!

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TRUMP- WHO ELSE

Makes an idiot of himself, again, by dismissing his Press Secretary after just 5 days pretty does not = competent! Then he endangers Europe by fiddling with the Starling satelitte system that the White House has control of. He calls Zelenski a disgrace whilst cosying up to Putin. Both leadeers in the war have faults and Zelenski seems resistant to any settlement of the conflict that would involve surrender of Ukrainian territory, but Putin needs to commitment to no further incursions across Ukraine, or indeed Europe. Arguements about Russian speakers in other countries are spurious (many Hungarians speak German as a first language and languages are mixed in many countries), the only factor that matters is the democratic vote of the people.

At home a survey has suggested that ‘insulating Britain’ could have a bigger impact than developing new oil/gas fields with 50000 jobs created with a boost of £1.5billion to the economy and £1 billion a year saving on household energy bills. What is there not to like? I have a grouse though – throughout my teaching career I was always earning just enough to avoid qualifying for grants, despite being broke due to high mortgage repayments. Now I am retired I receive a pension and have no mortgage – how much easier life would be if we could even things out a bit. The argument goes on about Brexit – it is a no brainer that it was a horrendous mistake by those in love with steam trains, antimacassar ‘s and days of the past. 1.25million was the majority for leaving, over 500000 people in the UK die each year, do the maths! 10 years since the vote and 5 million mostly old people have died in the UK; AND it was the old who swung the vote (along with the racists); therefore the polls are correct in forecasting that the majority of people alive today think the vote was a mistake and want a new vote. The young can be much more sensible than us old’uns – although I did vote Remain, and definitely old! And a final rant about taking back control – every bit of evidence shows that we and the government are controlled to some extent from abroad, mainly American billionaires who have money to burn. I am in favour of the small is beautiful movement and believe the billionaires should be heavily taxed, but a realist would state that in a dystopian world we need friends who care and support rather than Trumps America who just mainipulate for their own worth.

And football – both Manchester clubs are suffering from similar problems with their owners – Man City from too much, Man United from too little. Will this let Arsenal in again? Or maybe allow the likes of Brighton to challenge? The big clubs are not doing so well, Spurs and Newcastle are struggling to find form, Aston Villa have suffered from the transfer market, Everton seem to be content with top half, Could Leeds challenge? Sunderland are struggling again having made no significant signings this summer. Bournemouth with a key player out from an injury may struggle along with Fulham and Hull.

Bright and sunny today – I may take the herbs indoors from now on!

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BANKS

£200 billion pre-tax profit by the big 4 lenders and the press rush to condemn the Chancellor if he raises their taxes in the upcoming budget. Banks and oil companies must be forced to pay their share of mega profits whilst the home owners and renters get squeezed to keep up payments. The City of London will cope, as it has done for a thousand years, banks are not going to pull out if their profits are reduced a bit.

The RWPress have also been slow to report on the governments efforts to further reduce the small boats debacle. Eritrea, which has provided the largest number of small boats passengers, has been threatened with a visa ban if it refuses to take back failed asylum seekers and criminals. A government that is taking positive steps to ensure that those entitled to asylum are granted it quickly, and those rejected returned to their home countries, should be rejoiced – but the pages of Daily Hate are not for positive stories (like the IMF praising the UK government for its fiscal proficiency) they would rather stir up hatred and division. This is emphasised by the way they have reported JDVance saying that European countries face bigger threats from within, rather than Russia, he is refering to migration and specifically muslim migration of brown faces. Will the MAGA Party do anything to save its majority in Congress? Whilst Trumps deal to un-embargo some diesel – this was a minor amout – expect more, they will sell any of their friends and allies to save their power.

Trump has meanwhile caved to pressure by abandoning his plan to livestream an execution. There must be votes in its abandonment – after all the knuckleheads will vote for him come what may – its abandonment has nothingbto do with integrity, human dignity or decency.

In the UK – Thames Water has asked creditors to put up £2.4 billion to avoid bankruptcy. The company largely owned by American hedge funds is waiting on government policy to be announced – surely it must be bankruptcy and then nationalisation. Let the other water companies compete with a nationalised one, campetition is the mntra of capitalism.

Menheirs attacks me whenever – I got up, showered, dressed, and went and did the papers at the shop – did usual quiz, helped a little by taking the bread baskets out, and then felt totally dizzy. I went home after the first phase had lessened, It was a short drive, and then went back to bed – still not feeling great although dizzyness and nausia have reduced – hence having a belated blog!

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STUPID BEYOND BELIEF

Trump really has lost it, no one with a modicum of sense and no filters would think it was acceptable to create via AI, an image of themselves wrestling a tiger, especially shortly after a man was mauled in a tiger enclosure in the UK, and that one is the POTUS. Whilst this posting on Truth Social is obscenely nasty, it pails into insignificance when compared to his allegation that Zelenski is to blame for the invasion of Ukraine by Putin, and to blame for the escalation in diesel prices that may cost him not only the mid-term elections, but ultimately his freedom as demands for the release and investigation of the Epstein Files rumbles on. Even Musk has said that the lowering of speeds via Musk’s Starling satellite system is probably a result of Trump’s interference and siding with Putin. Rather than accepting that the war with Iran is the major factor in price hikes and inflation. I am, I believe a very reasonable person, and accept that everyone makes mistakes and should be ultimately forgiven, however bigots who deny facts and the truth must be held to account. The illegal war with Iran must be considered a war crime and the orange baby brought to justice, before he ruins even more lives than the billions who are worse off due to his egoistic actions. *&%*. And all this without his mantra of “drill, baby, drill” disregard for for the young on our planet.

At home Reform are getting knickers in a twist regarding undercover reporting by ITV of racist and misonygistic comments by Reform councillors and supporters. Reforms response was to attack the reporters, they hate it when there dodgy dealings are revealed.

India, once the worlds biggest democracy, the government in the few months have deleted 130 million voters from registers. And the cockroach movement is growing despite multiple arrests and imprisonment.

Ridiculously warm again this morning. I am going to predict a wet, very wet Xmas, based on – nothing really! A severe drought has been declared across much of southern England – not surprising really.

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SURPRISE

What a joke the right wing press are. On a day when the head of MI5 reported on the growing threat from right wing extremists the Daily Mail gleefully adds to the hatred by leading with 4 out of 5 new jobs have gone to ‘foreigners’ in the last decade, no where has it pointed out that the greatest influx of migrants was under a Conservative Government they supported. They also fail to comment on the positive input these migrrants make by having employment and paying tax, to the extent that in the past year the UK has been the best performing economy in the G20 – that information was also hidden! The Telegraph leads with a half truth by saying that the Head of MI5 stated that Russia did not influence Brexit, what he actually said was that their interference was largely ineffective. He also stated that Russia was the biggest threat to to the UK.

Meanwhile Scotland could be hit by a cyclogenesis, or weather bomb with high winds and rainfall whilst the rest of Britain is still suffering from drought conditions, many reservoirs are at or below 20% capacity. (Wimblehall Lake in Somerset is at 17% whilst Coddiford on Bodmin Moor is at 37%). It has been damp here without proper rain, my water butt off the conservatory is still empty. Water companies are asking for more stringent regulations on car washes, public schools, golf courses and industry generally. The Met Office forecast for this area does not predict any real rainfall in the period to 11 November! Could we have a serious problem by then?

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EU

I am loving the way that the Right Wing Newspapers and media are getting themselves all worked up about a “Brexit Betrayal”. Quite why they are soo worked up about it is another puzzle to me. They purport to be pro-business, but the facts show that Brexit has harmed businesses across the country, and the lies they told about the EU have been proven to be untrue. As for taking back control – what a laugh, we live in a global economy where the decisions made by Trump, Xi and Putin have a greater impact than Brussels (where we used to be a major player in decision making). Migrtion figures soared after Brexit to nearly 1 Million in 2024 -freedom of movement enabled a fluid pool of workers to exist. So where next? Labour pledged in its election manifesto to not rejoining the customs union, freedom of movement and single market – however much has changed recently; The Iran’s USA war, Trumps tariffs, Israel/Gaza and let us not forget climate change which needs international attention rather than notes from a small island. So I believe we need to act quickly – we still have diplomats and business people who know their way around the ‘cooridors of power’ in Brussels. Alignment with the EU is a no brainer on economic and military grounds, especially with America’s retreat as an ally in both areas. China is still rising despite a sluggish home economy, and India is still a dormant giant waiting in the shadows.. Europes weakness and its strength, is its diversity of just about everything; language, economy, politics, culture, people. In many ways it is a microcosm of life on Planet Earth.

Meanwhile we can expect fuel prices to continue upwards – Putins attack on Ukraine energy infrastructure, Zelenski says ‘we will respond’ whilst also surmising that Putin does not read ‘Truth Social’ posts by the idiot in the White House (Soon to be bling central). Quite whom the RWP will blame is debatable, they blatently love Trump whilst having to keep the romance undercover!

And the weather – it was 17C here at 06.00 – f’ing insane for mid-October, and no real rain down here.