A bit of a rant about environmental stuff.

 As another Tory defects to the Labour Party, here’s a little comment from Michael Rosen!

“For a variety of reasons, I'm pretty sure that if I said that I wanted to be in the Labour Party, I wouldn't be allowed in. Then I thought, that if I really did want to be in the Labour Party, the best route for me would be to join the Tory Party first, and then announce that I was defecting from the Tories to Labour. I'm pretty sure that would work...”

Temperatures soar in India, we have more rain than we know what to do with (and some nasty stuff in water in some parts of the country) and still governments are most.y keeping quiet about global warming. Just occasionally you come across something like this:

“The slashing of pollution from shipping in 2020 led to a big “termination shock” that is estimated have pushed the rate of global heating to double the long-term average, according to research.

Until 2020, global shipping used dirty, high-sulphur fuels that produced air pollution. The pollution particles blocked sunlight and helped form more clouds, thereby curbing global heating. But new regulations at the start of 2020 slashed the sulphur content of fuels by more than 80%.

The new analysis calculates that the subsequent drop in pollution particles has significantly increased the amount of heat being trapped at the Earth’s surface that drives the climate crisis. The researchers said the sharp ending of decades of shipping pollution was an inadvertent geoengineering experiment, revealing new information about its effectiveness and risks.”,

Here’s a link to the article I got that information from. Sometimes it seems you can’t do right for trying.

Here’s a link to an article about another modern-life problem: ultra-processed foods. The writer decided to spend a week trying not eat any ultra-processed food. It involves doing a lot of home cooking with fresh ingredients rather than heating ready-prepared meals or using pre-prepared ingredients. It’s quite hard to avoid the convenience of prepackaged stuff. According to this article, it’s also a problem in food-aid  parcels as the contents are often ultra-processed and so different from what those starving people might usually eat that they contribute to  problems like obesity.

My generation is quite fortunate to have grown up at a time when there was considerably less ultra-processed stuff around. 

Another problem that wasn’t around in my childhood was the ubiquitous plastic packaging, and plastic getting into everything, including our bodies. Most things came in paper bags or wrapped in grease-proof paper. Here’s a link to an article about someone trying to get rid of forever chemicals (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances - PFAS) from her home. As with avoiding ultra-processed foods, it can be a time-consuming and quite often expensive business. Most of us don‘t have the time (or the patience, or the willpower) to read through the ingredients of everything we buy. The forever chemicals eradicator had this to say about PFAS-free sports wear:

“During my experiment, I wear a PFAS-free sports bra from M&S and a T-shirt and leggings from Uniqlo to a gym class. The clothes are indistinguishable from other workout gear, which makes me wonder why the PFAS are necessary at all. For another class, I experiment with premium activewear from Sheep Inc, a UK-based company producing sustainable clothing from merino wool. The T-shirt and hoodie are beautifully soft and comfortable, as befits the price tag of around £250 a pop. The company says wool will do “exactly what it does on a sheep” and regulate your temperature during exercise (I’ve never seen a sheep at Fitness First). But as my face turns puce, I’m unconvinced that wool and Hiit go together. Outside the gym, however, these clothes are delightful – and, in general, natural fibres are a good bet for avoiding PFAS.”

But really - £250 for a hoodie!!

Life goes on. Stay safe and well, everyone!

A bit of sunshine!? Various kinds of mess. Lunch hours.

 Today, after I had been jogging in the drizzle, the sun decided to come out. It’s hardly summery out there though, even though we’re at the end of May. There was a chill wind blowing when I went out to put stuff in the bin. Maybe it will manage to stay dry though. I need to get out and tidy the garden. What was a rather charming buttercup wilderness has turned into a tangle of straggly stalks as the taller species of buttercup have gone to seed. Now it’s just a mess.

Rather like the world at the moment. 

In the wider world, the Labour party continues with its own Diane Abbott mess. Some people are protesting that she should be allowed to stand for election. Others, including Starmer, are declaring that she has never been banned from standing. And now there is talk of there having been a deal for her to retire from parliament which has now broken down, leading her to vow to stay on for “as long as it is possible”. After all, some old men are still trying to be president!

Apparently the investigation into Diane Abbott’s behaviour was finished in December. She then had to do an online antisemitism course. How very patronising and demeaning is that to a politician of her longstanding. It’s all a mess, leaving me wondering why they waited until the election was declared to announce her re-acceptance into the Labour fold. Did nobody foresee the brouhaha, surely detrimental to Labour, that would ensue?  

Meanwhile, other hopefuls have indeed been told they have been deselected. For example, Faiza Shaheen, who had been Labour’s candidate in Chingford and Woodford Green, told BBC Two’s Newsnight she received an email telling her she had been deselected after the decision was first made public in the Times. Diane Abbott said on X in response to that news: “Appalling. Whose clever idea has it been to have a cull of left wingers?”

Well! Well! That should endear her to her leader, I don’t think. But surely we need some outspoken people, livening up the debates! 

On other matters, Emma Brockes was writing about the demise of lunch hours (stopping work and actually eating with your workmates) in the Guardian today:

“A long time ago, when I worked in an office, we used to take lunch quite seriously. This meant getting up from our desks, walking on our legs, and eating with another human being for the purposes of chat. Sometimes this even happened outside, or at a restaurant. It seems absurd now. Who has the time to hang out in the middle of the day or drop $20 on a sandwich when you could be sitting at your desk, staring at the internet, grazing leftovers from a plastic container from home? (Or, if you’re already at home, let’s be honest, taking a nap.)”

I remember lunch hours. There was a time when they really were an hour, rather than 45 minutes, and on the last place I worked sometimes timetabled over so that you might find yourself teaching from 11.00 to 2.30, snatching a coffee beforehand and a late lunch afterwards. But back in the 1970s some of us used to sit and chat, do crosswords, even do our knitting during the lunch hour. 

Ms Brockes concludes:

“There is, I’m sure, a case to be made that socialising, moving around, or taking your head out of work in the middle of the day is actively good for your output. (Not to mention your emotional and physical health.) Skipping your lunch hour feels like part of a larger bait-and-switch, on a continuum with zero-hours contracts, gig labour, no security, no benefits – all bad deals that were presented by employers as opportunities for us to enjoy greater freedom. You can, of course, take all the lunch break you want if you’re on your own clock. In which case, why take any lunch break at all?”

There you are!

Life goes on. Stay safe and well, everyone!

Things that have happened while I’ve been away,

 I’ve been away for a few days, doing family stuff, running around being busy having fun with children and grandchildren. Somehow there was never time to just be quiet and post stuff. 

Yesterday we had tears as the small people had to say goodbye to their cousin. They’ll be together again in six weeks or so but it’s always a wrench. Then we spent far longer than expected on the M1. A much longer homeward journey than the outward one had been. Just general slow traffic and roadworks! 

This morning my weather app promised me rain later in the day. So I decided to cycle to the market, with just a light rain jacket, more as a windbreaker than anything else. As I arrived in Uppermill it started to drizzle and kept it up for the rest of my marketing time! Very annoying! And the bridle paths were so muddy that I had to hose the bike down when I got home.

In the meantime, the world had turned, things have moved on. Springsteen fans are distraught because he has cancelled shows in Marseille and Milan  - no voice as a result of singing in the rain and wind in various places in the UK. 

More importantly, longstanding Labour Party MP Diane Abbott has finally had the whip restored to her, but at least one report suggests that this is mostly so that she can leave parliament “with dignity”. Quite what that means or how much of a consolation it will be, I really do not know!  Rumour has it, and Diane Abbott herself seems to confirm it, that she has been banned from standing as a Labour candidate in the coming elections. They are selecting other possibilities to stand in her constituency. Apparently she has further offended the party great and good by “liking” a post put out by Jeremy Corbyn’s wife about his standing as an independent candidate! Oh dear! The broad church of the Labour Party seems to have become rather narrower! 

And Israel continues to believe that Hamas weapons stores are in tents in refugee camps in Rafah and attacking them accordingly. The IDF is said to be investigating one incident, while perpetrating another. Here’s one of Michael Rosen’s “comments” on this:

“'They say we're committing atrocities,' said the King to his tutor, 'how should we reply?' 

'There are several possibilities,' said the tutor, 'and we should consider any or all of them, depending on who's saying that about us.'

'Go on,' said the King.

'We can say, "No, we're not",' said the tutor.

'Yes,' said the King, 'straight denial. Does that work?'

'It gives our followers hope and courage,' said the tutor.

'I see,' said the King. 'Any others?'

'We can say, "We're doing all we can to prevent such things happening", said the tutor.

'Are we?' said the King.

'That's besides the point,' said the tutor, 'the important thing is to say it. Please try to keep up.'

'Yes, of course,' said the King, 'anymore?'

'"Other people did stuff like this",' said the tutor.

'Do we have to say who these other people are?' said the King.

'Ideally, you should pick on a heroic conflict where the winners were justified and right,' said the tutor. 

'But what if some nit-picking historian comes along and says that even though that war was justified and right, they or we committed atrocities?' said the King.

'That's a good point but no one will hear the nit-picking historian. They will just hear that it's what had to be done in the heroic, justified and right war,' said the tutor.

'You're very good at this, aren't you?' said the King.

'I like to think so,' said the tutor.

'Any more?' said the King.

'"It's not an atrocity",' said the tutor. 

'Oh, but won't people argue that it is?' said the King.

'Ahah, but that's the point,' said the tutor.

'Mm?' said the King.

'They'll spend hours and hours and hours arguing over whether it was or was not an atrocity,' said the tutor. 'They'll have inquiries and trials. There'll be hour and hours of TV programmes and radio shows arguing over whether it's an atrocity.'

'That's bad for us though,' said the King.

'Sir, please listen,' said the tutor. 'Don't you get it? They'll be arguing over whether the word 'atrocity' is the right word to use and not over whether something bad has happened.  This is all good.'

'I'm not comfortable with this,' said the King.

'Just ask yourself this: do their arguments about the meaning of the word 'atrocity' stop us doing what we're doing?' said the tutor.

'No, I suppose not,' said the King.

'There's your answer,' said the tutor.

'Thank you,' said the King, 'on we go.'

'Exactly,' said the tutor.”

And another of his comments, this time more solemn: 

“Guardian headline, May 29 2024: "White House says Israel’s latest actions in Rafah do not cross US red line"

Ah! The red line.

A line that is drawn in the scripts of the speechwriters and advisers.

A line that is not actually a line.

A line that doesn't separate one bullet from another.

A line that doesn't separate a building that stands from another that's been destroyed.

A line that doesn't separate a living person from a dead person.

A line that is conjured up as if was something that keeps people safe, even as it makes sure that they're not safe.

A line that tells us that Daddy America is making sure that things are just and right. 

A line that kills.”

That’s all.

Life goes on. Stay safe and well, everyone!

Out and about. Road trip. Looking at animals.

Yesterday we (my daughter, two small grandchildren and I) travelled to Buckinghamshire to spend a few days with my son and his family. So we’ve been busy doing family stuff. The small children were glad to be reunited with their slightly older cousin.

This morning we took the children, at the older cousin’s suggestion, to St Tiggywinkle’s, a hedgehog (and other injured animals) rescue centre. 

 

We came into close contact with James, a three-legged hedgehog. No-one was allowed to touch him - sensitive animal with fleas and the possibility of his having ringworm!

Here are some more photos.

That’s all for today.

Life goes on. Stay safe and well, everyone!

A fine day after yesterday’s wetness. General election stuff. Some statistics. And the ICJ ruling.

 I sometimes wonder if the weather organisers have a sense of irony. Yesterday was dull and damp and drizzly for our local festivities. Today has so far been bright and fine and sunny, not exactly what you might call summery but a considerable improvement on yesterday. 

Someone did a very good job of cleaning up the village after yesterday’s festivities. I ran through the village at around 9.00am. Apart from the odd sign reminding people to KEEP DELPH TIDY there was no evidence of anything unusual having gone on at all. 

Posters are already going up for the next major local event, Party in the Park, number 17 I think, at the Cricket and Bowling club, towards the end of September. It’s a long way off but it takes some organising and I expect some people will be booking their tickets already. I swear I saw the name Tom Jones on the list of performing acts. Is it the actual Tom Jones? Or just a lookalike / soundalike? I wonder.

Long before that comes around we have an election going on. I see that in Holborn and St. Pancras, Keir Stormer’s constituency, anti-Zionist Andrew Feinstein, 22 years resident there, is standing against him. 

And in Islington North, where he has been MP for about 40 years, former Leader of the British Labour Party, is standing as an Independent, against a Labour Party person imposed on the area. It will be interesting, to boy the least, to see how campaigning goes for these areas and, indeed, what the results of voting day will be.

Here are some interesting facts and figures sent to me by a friend!: 

Why are things expensive?

• 4 companies control 55% to 85% of the meat market.
• 4 airlines control 80% of air travel.
• 3 companies control 92% of the soda market.
• 3 companies control 73% of the cereal market.

Why don’t we hear about it?

Because….

• 6 companies control 90% of the news.

Just a little depressing! 

The International Court of Justice has ruled that Israel must stop its attack on Rafah and stop killing innocent by-standers. It remains to be seen whether Israel will take any notice. 

Meanwhile, here’s a bit of Michael Rosen:

“'Tutor,' said the King to his tutor, 'I know you think that what we're doing is absolutely the right thing, but do you think we could have done anything else instead?'

'Absolutely not,' said the tutor, 'what we're doing is the only thing we could be doing. There is no alternative.'

'I understand,' said the King, 'but can I ask whether we have evidence that what we're doing works?'

'Why are you asking that?' said the tutor. 'Asking questions like that undermines what we're doing.'

'But shouldn't we have some general kind of idea that what we're doing works?' said the King, 'Otherwise, we might be making a mistake.'

'Not only is there no alternative,' said the tutor, 'but we're doing this in the best possible way. I've looked at examples from other situations like ours and we're behaving in the world's best ever way. No one has been as good at doing this as we are.'

'That's very powerful,' said the King.'It makes me proud to think that we're doing things so well. So why do people say that what we're doing is wrong?'

'I've explained that to you before,' said the tutor, 'it's because they hate us.'

'Oh yes, I remember,' said the King, 'so it's full steam ahead. On we go, eh? '

'That's it,' said the tutor.”

And another:

“'What do we do when people say that we are bad?' said the King.

'We say that we're not as bad as that,' said the King's tutor.

'As bad as what?' said the King.

'As bad as they say we are,' said the tutor.

'Does that work?' said the King.

'Amazingly, it does,' said the tutor.

'How come?' said the King.

'People get so racked up about how bad we are, than when we say, "not as bad as that", people say, "Fair enough," said the tutor.

'I had no idea it was simple as that,' said the King.

'Well, there is a bit more to it,' said the tutor, 'we have to do some spluttering.'

'What's that?' said the King.

'We have to splutter that we are outraged with the people who've said we're bad,' said the tutor.

'How does that work?' said the King.

'It makes us sound virtuous,' said the tutor.

'Even though we might be bad?' said the King.

'Could you keep your voice down,' said the tutor, 'we never admit that we could be bad. The most we ever say is that 'we're not as bad as that', remember?' 

'Understood' said the King.””

And yet another: 

“'You must make an announcement that you are very sad that other people haven't supported us in our time of need,' said the King's tutor.

'But they have,' said the King.

'I don't think you've figured this right,' said the tutor, 'the point is we feel very isolated,' 

'But we're not,' said the King. 

'What you're saying is very unhelpful,' said the tutor.

'But everyone can see that there are some very important people helping us,' said the King, 'I can't just go out and there and say, "No one is  helping us",'

'What you say is that we feel betrayed and alone,' said the tutor.

'Do we?' said the King.

'That's beside the point,' said the tutor.

'Is it?' said the King.

'Now go out there and make that announcement,' asid the tutor.

'OK,' said the King.”

Life goes on. Stay safe and well, everyone!