UK needs to accept its role in creating the refugee crisis

There are a growing number of refugees across the world. Most recently there has been much publicity concerning the refugees coming out of Afghanistan. Also, those taking the dangerous route across the English Channel in search of refuge. The rhetoric of government seems to have centred on stopping people getting here, rather than addressing the causes driving the flow of refugees. Conflict and climate change have been two of the causes of creating refugees. The UK is one of the biggest arms sellers in the world. Weapons fuel conflict. British made weapons are found in conflict areas across the world. So, this country has a large responsibility for fuelling conflict, thereby creating refugees. Similarly, the UK and most of the other richest countries are most responsible for the climate crisis. The rich countries are the ones doing the most damage in terms of CO2 emissions and biodiversity destruction by the way in which they live. This behaviour helps create more refugees, fleeing the destruction caused. So what is the response of rich countries like the UK? Instead, of accepting responsibility for their role in creating these crises, they do the opposite. The UK has recently cut the overseas aid budget. The rich countries have failed to deliver on the pledges of funding for the poorer countries, made at the Paris Climate conference in 2015. These funds were to help the poorer countries cope with climate change. But the arms sales register continues to thrive. It is incredible that given the problems the world faces in areas like climate, that the warmongers are once again banging the drum in terms of a new Cold War with China. The only chance we have of survival is to work together across the world against threats like war, climate change and biodiversity destruction. There needs to be a more peaceful world, not one beholding to the military industrial complex. A more peaceful sustainable world will see less refugees because the main drivers forcing people to flee their lands will no longer be there. Time for the UK to face up to its responsibilities as a prime instigator of the growing refugee crisis.

Big question now for UK plc is whether migrant labour will want to return

So the day has dawned, when this ageing country realises it cannot run without migrant labour. The foreign HGV lorry drivers who suffered xenephobic villification over many years, whilst earning money and paying taxes in the UK, are to be asked back. No doubt there will be similar forays to get migrants back to service the agricultural, care, hospitality and many other sectors. The nonsensical anti-migrant rhetoric that fuelled the ill fated Brexit decision is now being exposed for the total folly it represented. Big question, now, for UK plc is whether migrant labour will want to return to save this sinking isle?

Autumnal Change

Autumn is a lovely time of year, with the September sun setting all around. A peaceful walk through Bush Wood, with its towering oaks, round onto the Flats bathed in sunlight. The bird watchers are out to see the migrant birds coming through the area. Winchats, Wheatears, Stonechats and Spotted Flycatchers are among the regulars. A number of buzzards have also been circling above. One rare visitor was a Wryneck that settled around the skylark enclosures. Still hoping to see the Wryneck. The now fairly long resident Black Necked grebe mixes with Little grebes on the Alexander Lake. Runners and the occasional cyclist go past, mothers and fathers pushing prams enjoying the sun. Peace abounds. Cutting across from the Flats to Wanstead Park, the long horned cows graze by the bottom of the Glade, near the Ornamental lake. The park's very own bit of rewilding. Popular visitors being given due space in the park. The park has been a place of solace, particularly during the pandemic, with visitors up 500%. There has been an opening up of the park to cycling, which seems to be going well. The blackberries are finishing, as are some of the fruits in the wild orchard of the Roding Valley Park. Some wild hops are still around. The harvest is rich in so many different ways. The Roding Valley has been another great place for relaxation during the pandemic, walking alongside the River Roding or cutting back onto some of the heathland areas. Sweet chestnuts are beginning to come and the horse chestnuts tumble from the row of trees along St Marys Avenue. A lovely time of year, as the nights close in and the season turns towards winter.

Is all political leadership doomed to end in failure or does one post war Prime Minister offer the blueprint for success?

Leadership is something that has come under the spotlight recently, particularly in relation to Afghanistan. US President Joe Biden has come in for some criticism for his leadership and the way the exit from that country was executed. I would applaud the President for his decisive action in getting out of a country that the Americans and British should never have been occupying in the first place. A bit more focus on the failed leadership of former US President George Bush and Prime Minister Tony Blair in invading and occupying the country in the first place would have been more in order. Leadership is a difficult thing to quantify - is it based on achievements or perception? Perceptions also change with time. The old adage that every political career ends in failure is probably true. There is the question with leadership as to how much the individual is a figurehead, a bit like the Queen, or really pulling the strings. Good Public Relations can go a long way on perception. The present Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been very effective at cultivating a certain ebuncular image. His close relations with those who own many UK media outlets, no doubt helps. Former Tory leader, Iain Duncan Smith, faired less well. He lacked a positive image, as well as becoming leader at a bad time for his party, with Labour in the ascendancy. Luck also plays a part in leadership. Margaret Thatcher was one of the luckiest leaders of modern times. Had she lost the Falklands war and/or the miners strike, Thatcher would probably not have survived. Had Labour Prime Minister Jim Callaghan gone for an election in autumn 1978, rather than Spring 1979, he would probably have won and Thatcher would never have been PM. US President John Kennedy famously took the blame and apologised for the failed attempt to invade Cuba at the Bay of Pigs in 1961 Kennedy got credit from the public for his honesty. What is important as a leader is to first and foremost recognise yourself as a first among equals. Someone who must take responsibility for all political decisions taken, not taking those that succeed but looking to blame others for those that don't. A bit more honesty and responsibility from politicians today would go a long way. It is failures in these areas and often blatant abuse of people's trust that has led politicuans generally to be held in contempt. Effective leaders must stay in touch with their own parties and the electorate. In the case of the Labour Party, the struggle for a leader is to try to keep all the strands of left, right and centre together. The most successful leaders of the Labour Party, such as Harold Wilson and Clement Attlee managed to do this effectively. Clement Attlee was a remarkable leader, the effective manager of the wartime Coalition Government, behind Winston Churchill. Then leader of the great reforming post war 1945 Labour Government. Attlee was an excellent manager of people and events. He had little personal charisma, not a man who wanted his picture in the paper but a great leader. The recognition of the effectiveness of Attlee's leadeship has only come with time. How such a leader would fair today in the era of 24 hour news, when the PM is expected not only to run the country but also know what us going on in Eastenders, who knows? But one thing is for sure, it'd be great to have a few Attlees around at the moment.

Air pollution hits Coronation Street

Air pollution has hit the cobbles in the latest plotline of the soap Coronation Street. The story focuses on single parent Maria, who starts opposing another resident's efforts to get a Controlled Parking Zone on the street. Maria's son, Liam, then collapses, struggling to breath. He is taken to hospital and diagnosed with ashthma. Maria is shocked, comes back a quick convert to controlled parking but wanting to go further. She cannot understand the refusal of her fellow street dwellers and car drivers to want to stop "killing our children" with pollution. In a fast moving plot, Maria then moves to direct action, taking a hammer to the local nicker factories van, when they refuse to withdraw it. The story has resonance, with so many people in denial about air pollution. Why do people with children think it is ok to drive everywhere, damaging their children and their own health. In Wanstead I sometimes think we live in a bubble of denial. If people want to see a real problem in this area, go and stand on the bridge over the Roding on the Eastern Avenue, just short of Redbridge Roundabout. The cars are gridlocked, hardly moving pumping out poison into the atmosphere. Then walk along the river, through Roding Valley Park - a beautiful place. But running parallel with the river is the A406 - the noise and air pollution is horrendous. There is some good news on the horizon, with the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) coming into effect next month. This will take some polluting vehicles away. But the ULEZ only covers inside the A406 - Wanstead and South Wiodford get in but not the rest of Redbridge. We desperately need to cut pollution across London and beyond - there need to be some dramatic moves made, including implementation of Low Traffic Neighbourhoods. But at an individual level people need to stop getting the car out at every opportunity. It is our own and the lungs of our children and children's children that we will be saving. Time to come out of denial and face reality. '

Persuade the unvaccinated to get jab or face more lockdowns

Talk of the government looking to re-impose restrictions at the end of October, such as social distancing, mask wearing and association is concerning. The rationale for such measures, and more lockdown style restrictions going forward, are due to rising hospitalisations and deaths caused by Covid. What such preparations betray is the unravelling of the strategy switch made on 19 July, when all restrictions were lifted. The change saw a move from restrictions on individual's liberties like social distancing, masks and lockdowns to a herd immunity approach. It was premised on everyone getting vaccinated. The fact that upward of 6 million people refuse to be vaccinated is driving us all back into lockdown - to once again protect the NHS. A way must be found to persuade the unvaccinated to get the jab - otherwise we are all heading back to where we were 12 months ago. published in Independent - 9/9/2021

Working together is better for the community

Living in a community means everyone has responsibilities. The thought came to mind, on the recent day of the floods. The unprecedented torrential rain saw some local roads turn into virtual rivers - the infrastructure was creaking. On my road we had a couple of blocked drains, which residents valiantly came out to clear. Whilst doing this, a crazy driver decided he would plunge down the road at speed, regardless of the dangers caused. This resulted in renewed calls for imposition of the 20 mph speed limit - something the council is pledged to deliver. The whole of Wanstead is due to become a 20mph zone. Blocked drains were another problem. On my road, I had reported one of the offending blocked drains weeks before - it had still not been cleared. It has now. However, then we come to individual responsibility. Drains often get blocked by leaves from people's trees and bushes. The council will clear the debris in the road, yes, but we need to look after our own vegetation, as well, within borders. Sometimes, drains block because irresponsible builders put waste down them - the council will enforce if the perpetrators are caught but why let them do it in the first place? There are regular complaints about bins in Wanstead being full - sometimes this is due to the dumping of household and building waste. It is a fine line between the resident and the council and statutory authorities. Everyone has a responsible role to play. I've been a keen supporter of litter picks and the planting of tree pits. Both are voluntary actions by residents to make the area a cleaner and greener place to live. This effort though does not take away from the council responsibility to clear rubbish and maintain street trees. But if we all do our part the sum of the parts will be greater. Some in the community leap to blame the council for just about everything - even things that are nothing to do with them. Equally, council can blame funding cuts etc for a failure to deliver - an often valid claim. But actually everyone is trying to do their best for the community. This can be achieved working together as sometimes critical partners. Councilors are elected and come from the community. Less is achieved when people simply seek to blame others rather than take on any responsibility themselves.