More corruption by the government. NHS Trusts seem to be political appointments rather than being based on medical knowledge or even financial ability. The system is flawed, as the tories want it to be, so they can privatise it.
PMQ’S
What will Starmer say? Partygate? Ukraine – no point in anything other than support. The point of PMQ’s is the question. Energy costs and the budget. NHS parking? Will Johnson seek to either blame Labour (despite the years out of office) or what he suggests they would do? Suggestions of nationalisation would be good but unlikely.
Weak performance by Starmer again. He did ask for a resignation though. Why does he not respond to Johnsons lies?
ENERGY
National Grid Live Status shows that we are still very dependant on fossil fuels, especially at this time of year. We have become reliant on wind for renewable energy and not done enough to develop solar. As ever I am the worst sort of commentator as I have limited knowledge which may be worse than no knowledge!
Cutting demand is an obvious partial solution. Solar panels on all possible sites of offices and educational establishments that operate mainly in daylight is a no brainer. Governments and investors of all persuasions seem fixated on the large scale projects. Would lots of small scale projects undermine the privatised National Grid? I am surprised at the lack of HEP – water powered this country for centuries. Re-instated mill ponds would surely bring environmental benefits.
The stats show the continuing importance of nuclear power. I am cautious with Windscale, Three Mile Island, Fukushima, Chernobyl all in my memory, and we do not seem to have solved the nuclear waste problem. However, needs must. At this time of year we need an alternative that does not exacerbate climate change. The £13 billion pound cost of increasing the nuclear component from 16% to 25% it to passed onto the public. I am not sure the free market economy is working too well in this market. We have seen the privatised energy companies make huge profits (and the huge fossil fuel companies), whilst little has been done to help the poorest in our society. (I was fortunate to have been born with the benefits derived from a socialist government. The gap between rich and poor was still too large, but has grown exponentially recently). The current capitalist model is broke.
Apparently Tory MP’s with rural constituencies are opposed to relaxing planning rules for onshore wind farms. I suspect that 90% of people living in villages do not give a shit, it is the wealthy landowners they are talking about. I am sure the Daily Mail or Telegraph can run a spurious story linking wind turbines to cancer!
ROYALTY and the COMMONWEALTH
TRIVIAL NEWS
There is a lot to be said for the trivial occasionally. A little light relief. Thank you Will Smith for this. I do not condone violence ever – he could have made his point more forcefully with words. However I can understand his reaction to a very poor jibe about his wife. I think James Corden would have made ruder comments with less reaction as he would not have been so insensitive. Attacking an Oscar nominee personally would seem to be fair play, but their family has to be out of order, especially on a world stage. So he was totally wrong in my opinion – violence is not. It is misogyny – cave men should be consigned to cartoons.
Whilst interesting today it will be forgotten tomorrow as we return to the grim reality of Ukraine and climate change.
EDUCATION
Nadhim Zahawi is at least awake which cannot be said of his predecessor! However quite what his ‘reforms’ will do is a puzzle. He wants more academies to link together to form MAT’s (formerly known as Local Education Authorities run by local councils). He announces new targets without apparently putting up any cash for changes. And the target of 2030 for MAT’s is rather pointless.
A QUESTIONNAIRE
- Is Johnson doing a good job?
- Has Brexit been good for Britain?
- Did the Government handle the Covid crisis well?
- Are Government Ministers honest and moral?
- Is the Government handling the economy well?
- Is it right that the rich pay less tax?
- Is the UK respected around the world?
- Should we forget about slavery?
- Should we ban all migrants?
- Did you vote conservative or UKIP?
- Will you vote Conservative?
If you have said yes to more than one (we all make mistakes!) of the above your IQ is lower than your age.
BREXIT CRISIS
Economy in shambles, tax up, poverty up, rich wealthier, inequality increased. EU leading on world stage with meeting with Biden, taking in migrants, cutting fuel bills. Britain leads in increasing fuels bills, poverty, and a lack of compassion. Sleaze-Dogg says there are some teething problems for some fishermen and farmers, but otherwise Brexit is brilliant. I guess it is, for those who want to do away with environmental and employment rights.
JOHNSON
My god he is pathetic. At PMQ’s he forgets that the nasty party has been in power for 12 years and still seeks to blame Labour for just about everything. He also seems to know more about what the Labour Party would do in power (Which they are not) than he does about his own party’s policies. Brexit has been a disaster and taking our place at the table will be at the OSINS (Organisation of small island nation states) – if they will have us. It would allow the liar to proclaim that we are the worlds number one small island state. Meanwhile leaders in the EU and of the USA will meet this week.
From NYTimes
| War threatens to cause a global food crisis |
| A crucial portion of the world’s wheat, corn and barley is trapped in Russia and Ukraine because of the war, while an even larger portion of the world’s fertilizers is stuck in Russia and Belarus. The result is that global food and fertilizer prices are soaring, foreshadowing a rise in world hunger. |
| Since the invasion of Ukraine last month, wheat prices have increased by 21 percent, barley by 33 percent and some fertilizers by 40 percent. Compounded with the coronavirus pandemic and China’s worst wheat crop in decades, conditions could further deteriorate, officials warn. Of particular concern is that Ukrainian farms are about to miss critical planting and harvesting seasons. |
| This month, the U.N. said that the war’s impact on the global food market could cause an additional 7.6 million to 13.1 million people to go hungry. In February, U.S. grocery prices were already up 8.6 percent over the previous year, the largest increase in 40 years. |