Need to address causes that create asylum seekers, not just apply sticking plasters

The tragedy of lives lost in the channel has resulted in the government once again focusing on deterrents. How can it be made more difficult for desperate people to get into the UK? An wholly immoral stance. The real question should be what is creating the situation that makes people take such desperate measures in the first place. The role of the UK as a seller of weapons into conflict zones is one cause, as is the failure to take adequate measures against climate change War and climate devastation both create desperate situations, so people have to flee, Nor has the decision of the UK government to cut international aid helped at this vital time. Failure to deal with the causes driving asylum seekers to these shores will do nothing to stem the flow. The measures being taken amount to nothing more than sticking plasters on an increasingly gaping wound. published - metro 26/11/2021

Bold plan to tackle biodiversity crisis in Redbridge

Wetlands, tree planting and more rewilding are amongst the recommendations of Redbridge Council's Nature and the Environment Task & Finish Group. The recommendations are among 14 coming out of the report, which seeks to extend biodiversity in the borough and is being considered by the council. The report builds on work already underway as part of the Council's response to the climate and biodiversity crises as set out in the Climate Change Action Plan and Green Urban Landscape Policy. These provide the rudiments toward building a cleaner, greener Redbridge. So far the report has been well received and I’m confident the council leadership understand the need for action and measurable results that the public can recognise and buy into. There are already plans to extend grow zones across the borough, letting areas go wild and encouraging biodiversity. We also need to look at how to encourage measures to help biodiversity on private land - the fruit tree giveaway is one such initiative. Any new development must put environment concerns front and centre with actions to mitigate against flooding risk whilst also boosting biodiversity. The report highlights the potential for Wetland developments which can help deal with flood threats as well as extend biodiversity. And as Walthamstow Wetlands and others across the country show they are a great visitor attraction. A review of the Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation (sincs) with a view to extending their coverage is another integral element of the report. The whole approach has to be holistic, taking in every part of life. So when developers build new housing stock, there must be a net biodiversity gain (this is being mandated in the Environment Act that was recently adopted by Parliament). All parts of the environmental policy need to interact together from planting more trees and developing wetlands to facilitating more active travel and extending the electricity vehicle charging network. All of these things need to come together, if the dual threats of biodiversity and climate disaster are to be tackled. Important work is already underway and I hope this report will contribute to making our borough a greener place to live to the benefit of nature and people. Full report at: http://moderngov.redbridge.gov.uk/documents/s126569/8.1%20Nature%20and%20Environment%20Scrutiny%20Report%20final%20Oct2021.pdf

Two jobs MPs" debacle causes further damage to public trust

The recent sights of MPs seemingly filling their boots, whilst offering a part time service to the public did not make for very edifying viewing. The about turn of the government, over the Owen Paterson case, bemused many. First, Conservative MPs were whipped to support a motion clearing Paterson and abolishing the regulatory watchdog. Then, the next day, this was reversed with Paterson resigning and the abolition of the new body to examine the process. More revelations have followed of MPs with second jobs (or incomes). The justification for MPs to have second jobs is difficult to fathom. They are paid over £82,000 putting them among the top 5% of earners in the country. If an MP is doing his or her job properly, it is a 24/7 day a week position. There should be no time for a job or two on the side bringing in another £100,000. Amazingly, some have argued that the recent happenings justify another rise in MPs pay, so they don't "need" to do another job. Thankfully, most MPs are hard working, putting in huge amounts of time and effort to serve constituents. The late David Amess provides a good example. Unfortunately, this majority of good MPs are tarnished by the recent revelations. The political class has been struggling for some time to re-establish its credibility, after the cash for questions, cash for honours and expenses scandals of previous decades. The latest scandals threaten to take things to a new low. It is this lack of belief in politicians that has led to the crisis of trust in the relationship with the public. Why if people don't trust and respect those who govern, and believe they are just in it for all they can make out of it, will they believe what they are told. The latest expenses scandals will take a lot of time to recover from. In the longer term new processes need to be put in place to ensure that only people of integrity end up representing the people at all levels of government. One important sanction is to use the vote to put out those not working for the common good. At the moment, the political class is coming to resemble a load of pigs snuffling around in the trough. Things need to change.

World leaders prove incapacity to deal with threat to humanity at COP26

So two weeks of COP26, results in world leaders proving once again, they are incapable of coming together to confront a threat to all humanity. The result of COP26 is a ringing endorsement for continuation of the damaging consumer capitalist model that has played such a part in creating the crisis in the first place. Yes, there are some modifications, gestures, but will even these be realised when you look at the failure of past COPs to deliver real action. Instead, we will continue with more floods, droughts and heat waves. Lands disappearing, with the poorest suffering most. Then, one day when climate and biodiversity loss are truly recognised as at pandemic levels action will be taken. It will cost more, with the poorest suffering most but that is where we are after two weeks of blah,blah, blah. published - Independent - 14/11/2021

The 5 million refusing vaccination against Covid betrays a growing chasm of distrust and alienation in UK society

The Covid vaccination program has stalled over recent months, the result of which could be to send the country backward into some sort of lockdown. The problem at present appears to be twofold. There are a group of 5 million, who don't seem to want the jab, despite the evidence that it can stop them getting Covid and perhaps more importantly, ending up in hospital. The vast majority of those ending up in the hospitals have not been vaccinated. The other group are those due to have the booster jab. Many of this group (over 50s) were very keen to get the first two jabs, so it is difficult to understand the reluctance of some to take a third. What is for sure is that booster jabs need to be accelerated, alongside the flu immunisation program. Much immunity from flu has been lost over the past year, which could see hospital wards filling up with those who have that disease. So what is the problem with the 5 million, who refuse to be vaccinated? Not all are conspiracy theorists or anti-vaxxers. There is ofcourse much disinformation flying around on social media. The tendency of many in that genre to settle themselves in silos of the like- minded, helps disinformation take root. But there must be bigger problems for so many to be so distrustful of what they are being told by those in authority and particularly government. There seems to be a growing sense of disempowerment amongst some people in society. A sense of being forced to do things they don't want to do. A sense they lack a meaningful voice. An alienation. Part of this process is a disillusionment with public institutions to the point where they are often not believed at all. Indeed, once sufficiently alienated people adopt a default position of disbelief in anything they are told by someone "in authority." There was another example of this refusal to believe with the recent petrol shortage. Repeatedly people were told there is no shortage of petrol, yet most took no notice, continued to panic buy, until the prophecy became true and there was a shortage. Clearly, there is a growing chasm of trust between the governed and those who seek to govern. The handling of the Covid crisis by government has made an already bad situation worse. Thousands dead, a debacle over Personal Protective Equipment and test and trace. All done amid a background feeling of a few people getting very rich on the back of a mass tragedy. The vaccination program has been the one big success, though, as outlined, this threatens to be derailed. Moving forward, the vaccination program needs to get back on track. This will mean connecting with and seriously addressing the concerns of the 5 million, not just lecturing them like naughty school children. But beyond Covid and the public health crisis, the bond of trust between governed and governors needs to be rebuilt. Honesty and openness will be key to that process. Failure to do so will see the chasm of distrust widen, with even more people effectively cutting off from the mainstream of society. This will in turn lead to a more divided, disordered and ungovernable land.

The need for action out of COP26, not more blah blah blah

The power of one should never be under-estimated. There has been much criticism of world leaders for their failure to seriously address the climate crisis. The young Swedish activist Greta Thunberg summarised it well when she accused world leaders of just coming up with “blah blah blah.” Greta is someone who really does show how powerful one person can be in working for transformation of the world. When one becomes millions we get change. So, the hope for COP26 is that political leaders hear the deafening cry to address the crisis and act. The British government’s role as chair in the process is not inspiring. To lead there needs to be moral authority and whilst Britain has done much to reduce carbon emissions, we are a country that can readily be accused of too much blah blah blah. What of the recent budget which encouraged internal air flight by cutting passenger duty by half, whilst fuel duty was frozen. Then there are the plans for new coal mines. Not exactly moral leadership. There are things, though, that everyone can do to improve the situation. Expressing concerns to elected representatives and becoming politically active is important. But there needs to be a personal conversion of the way in which we all live. The recent BBC1 series, “Shop Well for the Planet” has made for fascinating watching. A team of experts help different families address the carbon excesses in their lives. Notable, has been the areas that cut carbon emissions most. Switching to an electric car and flying less make a huge difference to emissions. Not eating meat or eating a lot less also makes a significant difference. All the families have been shocked at the cut in emissions made as a result of their changes in way of life. They have also pledged to stick with many of the changes. There are choices to be made every day that impact on the planet. So, there is plenty we can all do that will help in the effort to avert climate crisis.A personal conversion would see everyone driving and flying less, eating less meat and running their homes off sustainable energy sources. It would also be great to be able to grow as much of your own food as possible. And when buying food, the local sustainably produced varieties are best. We can all make a difference. There is a mountain to climb. It was somewhat disheartening in the run up to COP26 to hear that the past year has seen record levels reached for emissions. There has been little progress made since the last conference on climate back in Paris in 2015. We are heading for warming of way above the 1.5 degrees proscribed. So, there needs to be action at all levels now. The politicians must act (not just talk) to change the parameters of life but everyone has a role to play. It is not too late but there must be action now – not more blah blah blah.

British government lacks moral authority to lead at COP26

If the British government is to make a success of chairing the upcoming COP26 meeting it must have moral authority. It's recent actions on the environment smack of talking the talk but failing to deliver. The latest Budget offers a great example, halving passenger tax for internal flights, freezing fuel duty and investing heavily in roads - hardly combatting climate change. Then there is the development of new coal mines in the North of England. On this record, why would any country take a word the UK says on the environment seriously? Published - Independent

Not all doom and gloom on climate and biodiversity - Earthshots provide hope

There is often much doom and gloom when it comes to the questions of climate change and biodiversity destruction. There are big expectations for the upcoming COP26 meeting in Glasgow, where it is hoped countries will put their money where their mouths are and set about making the changes needed to save the planet. There is though good news about things already happening to address the crisis. The recent Earthshot series on BBC 1 told of a number of excellent initiatives across the world to deal with the crisis. The Earthshot program focuses on the five areas of biodiversity, climate change, pollution, ocean destruction and waste. There are to be five awards of £1 million each made every year for the next 10 years. The TV series provided a narrative on the problem but then some real causes for hope. So, there was Singapore, where the use of biophilic design, which sees the like of green walls, trees etc incorporated in the development of urban landscapes to counter pollution. In Mexico, there was an artist painting murals on the side of buildings, with airlite paint that actually counters pollution. In Ghana, thanks to a grass roots campaign, there is an extensive and growing renewable energy project. The campaigners managed to persuade those in government against investing in coal powered energy, going instead for renewables. There was regenerative farming in Australia, where farmers are learning from the ancient practices of the native Aboriginal peoples. Simple but obvious ways of living – moving animals around, thereby encouraging growth of fields and feed. On biodiversity, rewilding can do so much to improve the situation by helping to absorb carbon dioxide, as well as increasing biodiversity. In the UK, there are some excellent peat lands that if handled properly absorb huge amounts of CO2. Managed wrongly, the same lands will emit CO2. The introduction of key species like longhorn cattle and beaver have a dramatic impact on the landscape. In the Earthshot series there was a feature on the positive impact of re-introducing wolves to Yellowstone National Park. This helped control the burgeoning levels of deer, which in turn led to more trees developing and less CO2. The sea otter is a key species in the oceans. It eats urchins, which hoover up CO2 absorbing kelp. The re-introduction of the sea otter has seen the rebirth of the kelp forests, increasing the level of CO2 being absorbed. At the end of each of the programs, the Duke of Cambridge introduced the three finalists for the Earthshot prize. All have been excellent, well meriting the £1 million prize money. If only five out of the 15 projects shortlisted can win the prizes, then maybe the British government can come up with the rest of the funds to support the unlucky losers? So there is much going on to be positive about on climate, biodiversity, pollution and waste reduction. A cause for optimism that given the will, the plan