Reasons to be cheerful: signs of spring. And some general pessimism.

My Spanish sister told me yesterday that they were having heavy rain in Cádiz in the south of Spain. They need rain but maybe not all at once! Here by contrast we have another fine sunny day. There are signs of spring: not just crocuses

but also the first cherry blossom I’ve seen this year. 

Mind you, I did see a social media post recently to the effect that we have more than four seasons in the year. The year begins something like this:

Winter. 

False spring

Second winter.

Spring

Summer

Etc.

And, in fact, a further cold spell is forecast later this week.

In other parts of the world, of course, it’s a lot worse. Not just the weather! Here’s Sarah Sultana MP on Gaza:

“Israel’s siege on Gaza, the blocking of essential aid and the cutting off of electricity are textbook acts of genocide, designed to systematically starve 2 million people.

It’s shameful the Labour government continues to refuse to recognise this for what it truly is: genocide.”

I commented yesterday on the man who climb up Old Ben. Here’s something from my friend Heidy’s post:

“This is what 2-tier policing really looks like

Protesters at the Houses of Parliament – there to support an anti-genocide protester who had scaled the clock tower colloquially known as Big Ben to draw attention to Israel’s mass slaughter of civilians in Gaza and the UK government’s abuse of law to punish those who expose and oppose the genocide – were told yesterday that they would be arrested if they did not disperse, but that anyone there to support Israel would be allowed to remain in counter-protest. Protesters against genocide in Congo and Sudan would also be driven away.”

And so it goes on.

And here’s something from the USA! 

“BREAKING: Democrats go tight for Elon Musk’s jugular and introduce a bill to ban special government employees from obtaining federal contracts - directly threatening his lucrative government gravy train.

The best part is the name of the bill…

Representative Mark Pocan introduced the legislation which is titled “Eliminate Looting of Our Nation by Mitigating Unethical State Kleptocracy (ELON MUSK)”

Ir may not achieve much, but it can raise a smile?

And here’s something about Reform UK:

“Reform UK fail to win in 9/9 by-elections yesterday.

They stood in all. They’ve won only 12 seats in 216 council by-elections since the General Election. 

They have just 89 seats out of 19,000 in the UK.

80% of their councillors are from defections, 47% of their councillors are former Conservatives.”

And theybare still considered an important party. However, as someone pointed out in comments on that post, in the next general election results could be different unless Labour starts to offer a more attractive alternative. 

Life goes on. Stay safe and well, everyone!