Do we need a mobile phone?

Comedian Paul Merton recently told of life without a mobile phone. Merton revealed on the One Show how he has not had a phone since the early 1990s. Whenever, someone reveals living without a mobile phone it causes a mixture of sentiments from bewilderment to wonderment and envy. The phone, as with much other modern technology, has come to seem a necessity. But there are pluses and minuses. The modern mobile is a fantastic device, with powers to communicate via written and spoken word. The possibility to research almost anything via internet access, as well as games and entertainment. Facilities like WhatsApp, Facebook and Twitter provide great ways to stay in touch. On the negative side; are we not all becoming obsessed and addicted to phones. Constant checking of the phone for messages, hours spent literally glued to the device. Many often feel they cannot go anywhere without their phone. Some 25 to 30 years ago, people did not feel the same attachment to such devices. It is difficult not to think there is a sort of escapism going on. People literally living through their phones Yet, how necessary is much of what happens on phones? It must be doubtful if many of the messages being conveyed are any more vital now, than they ever were. The addiction to mobile phones does represent something of a marketing masterclass. People have been persuaded that they literally cannot exist without a mobile phone. Returning to the Paul Merton example, there is now almost a two track society developing: those engaged on social media and those not. It is interesting when mixing socially with people who engage on social media and those who don't. Much has to be explained about what has happened to those not online. Though, often like Merton, those not doing Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to name but a few, often take a certain pride in being out of the loop. They do also tend to be predominantly older. Though technology is a funny thing, it can be liberating or constraining. For example, take those who have decided not to have a TV. Again mixed emotions. Television can educate, enrich and entertain but at the same time a lot of life can be wasted watching absolute rubbish. There must be a sense in some ways of getting your life back by making a decision to opt out on having a mobile or TV. But then there is also a missing out on what this technology has to offer, The best route is probably moderation, a middle road, not addicted to the mobile or TV but not a total refusenik either. That is probably where most people dwell, though polarisation maybe growing.

Triggered by Emma Burnell at the White Bear, Kennington

The triggering of sitting MPs has been a subject of much controversy. It is a process brought in during the Corbyn years to democratise the party, making MPs more accountable to members. The reality over recent times has seen the right using the process to deselect sitting left MPs. It is against this background that Emma Burnell brought forth this excellent entertaining play, that encapsulates the whole process. The play is set in the fictional constituency of Hollingsdean. The story unveils focusing on just four characters, the sitting MP, Sally Finch, (Antonia Beamish), local chair of Momentum, Jim Marr (Michael Palmer), Blairite, Sadia Peters (Catherine Adams) and NEC representative June Wright (Carrie Cohen). The trigger process unveils with the robust Wright holding the ring. The challenged and sometime affronted centrist MP, the leftie man of principle and the uber ambitious Blairite do battle for the seat. The play running over an hour covers much ground in such a short space of time, exposing divisions and factionalism, as well as a basic goodwill for the common good shared by all candidates. There is much good humour in the play, with final hustings seeing the Red Flag, the Internationale and Things can only get better being sung simultaneously by the various participants. A Westminster insider for 20 years, Burnell does well in bringing the whole trigger process together in such an enlightening and entertaining way. Research included talking to the likes of Jon Landsman and Luke Akehurst from across the political divide. Focusing on the 2019 election, the content though is already ageing, with a final line about Boris Johnson becoming PM and questioning how will he ever be got rid of. Maybe Burnell will need to do a sequel for 2024, looking to how the trigger process has been used during the interim. What is for sure is that Triggered deserves a longer run, once it finishes at the White Bear on Saturday. The Labour Party Conference would be one good future venue.

Britain's strangely contorted attitude to immigration

The British have once again been found behaving inhumanely to people coming seeking sanctuary in their land. There was an outcry recently, with the way that migrants, coming across the Channel, were being treated at holding centres at Manston in Kent. The mainly, asylum seekers, were once again being treated like criminals by the British authorities. There is much history to this approach, with a whole privately run wing of the security state growing up to deal with migrants coming to the UK. Instead of sanctuary, read detention – often for some time. This inhumane approach is followed with accompanying mood music from the British tabloid media, which has spent decades vilifying foreigners, who may come seeking to live in this land. It has been more than amusing recently to see the true fruit of this approach over the years. It led, in part, to the disastrous Brexit, which in turn meant less skilled labour available to do the jobs that, often the indigenous, would not do. Brexit and the Covid pandemic led to the labour that had been staffing hospitals and care homes, working in hospitality and harvesting the crops heading home. One of the big problems of the British economy over the past couple of years has been the lack of people to actually do the work. This is causing those, who previously scored cheap and racist political points vilifying migrants, now seeking ways to get people to come here to work. This pattern has been seen before, with people from Ireland and the Caribbean coming over to do essential work in previous decades. Many of them suffered that particular brand of British racism saved up for those who come to contribute to the UK. Many still remember the no Irish, no Blacks, no dogs notices of the 1950s and 60s. This though is to only discuss one particular group of people coming to the UK, namely economic migrants, seeking to make a living for themselves and contribute. They are desperately needed now but maybe less willing to come. The people arriving on the beaches of southern England are mostly asylum seekers fleeing oppression. More than 75% of their claims for asylum are upheld (eventually). There is an international duty to provide refuge to these people under the international Refugee Convention. Listening to the rhetoric of government ministers, the point is clearly missed. It is the old “Britain is an easy touch routine,” not that these people are fleeing oppression needing refuge. Home Office minister Robert Jenrick typified the approach, when he started highlighting the numbers of refugees coming to these shores compared to other European countries. No doubt the deteriorating relations with European neighbours like France, due to the bombastic nationalistic approach taken by the Conservative governments since Brexit, may mean that they are being less co-operative than before, when it comes to dealing with this human tragedy. But in reality the British are merely reaping what they have sown. Conflict and climate change are major creators of refugees. The UK and other countries from the rich First World have contributed to wars and the destruction of the planet. The arms sales register is one table where Britain always features in the top five. These causes, substantially contributed to by Britain and others from the rich First World have helped create more and more refugees seeking asylum. Given the circumstances, the least that the UK and others can do it so face up to its moral and legal responsibilities by providing a safe refuge for these people. Castigating and criminalising people who are taking such desperate measures to get here, reflects very poorly on the UK. It is high time that the UK recognised its international responsibilities and accepted those seeking refuge – especially given the culpable role that this country played in creating their plight in the first place. A caveat to this argument, on economic migration, is that just maybe Britain with its ageing population should recognise that migration is good. When people come here seeking to work and to contribute maybe it would be to everyone’s benefit to welcome them. The alternative is to continue to build a country and economy that is internationally isolated and fundamentally flawed when it comes to providing the good and services required to make things work for all 67 million of its inhabitants. Irish Post - 19/11/2022

Church of maintenance or mission - time to take your side

Church of maintenance or mission – take your side Funny to see recently the Catholic Bishop of Portsmouth Phillip Egan bemoaning the lack of funds being provided to the Church by the faithful. The Bishop decried parishioners giving “less than the price of a cup of cappuccino” in their weekly collection. There has ofcourse been a fall off in church attendance and consequently revenue, as a result of the pandemic. Some went away and never came back. Many continue to observe online, maybe accompanied by a cappuccino? Maybe, if Bishop Egan and his fellow bishops want to up the offertory take, they ought to look at their fundamental mission. Many churches did outstanding work in supporting people during the pandemic. Supporting the housebound, running foodbanks, making sure no one was left behind. Other churches though closed their doors throughout the pandemic and did very little. There are churches that live out gospel values, as part of their communities and those that don’t. The latter are the church of maintenance rather than mission, going through the motions, upholding the archaic practices of the Church, such as denying women the right to become priests. The church of maintenance will eventually die out – it has survived for too long on the generous giving of the faithful. The church of mission that is part of the community, living out gospel values in terms of the world in which we live should grow and prosper. So many need help in these difficult economic times. Maybe, it’s time to take a side – wonder where Bishop Egan stands? Ps: another good idea could be having cappuccino machines at the back of churches – just an idea! IrishPost - 19/11/2022

Pay Ambulance Care Assistants a decent wage

The NHS came to the rescue of so many during the COVID pandemic - everyone clapped to show appreciation. One group of workers, little known to the public, were the Ambulance Care Assistants (ACA). These brave people move patients to and from the hospitals. There are many cases, including people unable to move or suffering with dementia. There is a need for mental and physical toughness, among ACAs, who witness trauma on a daily basis. The challenge of the work involved was illustrated in actor, writer and Ambulance Care Assistant, Marissa Landy's excellent play, Non-Emergency. The play debuted at the Edinburgh Fringe and more recently ran as part of the Wanstead Fringe. The play tells of the difficulties and challenges of working as an ACA during the pandemic. There was laughter and tears, as staff and patients took on adversity. Marissa recently told of the limited training given to ACAs before they are thrown into the front line - just three weeks. She struggled to find Personal Protection Equipment during the pandemic. On one occasion, she and another ACA struggled on the stairs with an immobilised, heavy patient - the only way was up, otherwise all could have fallen down the stairs, sustaining serious injuries or worse. What the ACAs do is vital, yet they seem to be treated as one of the lowest in the food chain by the NHS. The service is contracted out to private companies, who pay just £11.01 an hour, making life incredibly difficult, especially during these inflation ravaged times. The ACAs have become frustrated by their lot - doing a dangerous but vital job, rewarded with applause but not money. There is a high turnover among ACAs as a result. Backed by the GMB union, Marissa and the Baloney Theatre Company, who put on Non -Emergency, have established a petition calling for the private companies to increase ACA pay to NHS levels of £12.30 an hour in London (£11.79 outside). Even, this demand is modest, given the Labour Party having discussed bringing in a £15 an hour minimum wage, if elected to government. The ACAs deserve everyone's support, they do a vital job and should be paid accordingly. A decent level of pay would also ensure that more staff were retained, so providing a more experienced, skilled service in the longer term. Just as NHS and care staff should be paid properly for their vital work, so do the ACAs, who don't even have the security of an NHS contract of employment. The ACAs want parity with those on NHS contracts, so private companies do not undercut on wages to increase their own profits. Pay them a living wage. Please support the campaign by signing the petition at ? Also, if you get the chance to watch Non-Emergency - it will bring laughter and tears. Petition: Petition · Raise wages for Ambulance Care Assistants to match the level of NHS wages! · Change.org

Half term report on West Ham United - a work in progress but could do better

West Ham United had a decidedly poor finish to the first half of the season - up to the World Cup break. Three home defeats in the final week, including going out of the Caraboa Cup on penalties to Championship side Blackburn Rovers. Manager David Moyes has come under fire, after spending £180 million in the summer. A number of those signings though came in the last weeks of the transfer window. The club did not get the players they wanted in early, giving them the time to settle before the season began. As a result, the settling in has had to be done as the season has gone on. Injuries have further complicated the bedding in process. The team are in European competition for the second season in a row. Indeed, it has been in Europe that West Ham have been at their best, winning all six games in the Europa Conference League competition. Moyes has developed almost two separate teams in Europe and the Cups compared to the Premier League. Some players perform in both. There have been some promising performances in Europe from youngsters like Conor Coventry, Flynn Downes, Divin Mubama and Ollie Scarles. Things have been slower to gell in the Premiership. There is the basis of an excellent team but it is not quite working at the moment. The lack of goals scored is one of the most alarming features - just 12 in 15 Premiership games. Moyes and his team are still looking at how to get the best from Gianluca Scamacca. There have been flashes of brilliance from the Italian striker but he does not look like a target man to lead the line, more one to play deeper in the three behind the main striker. The developing understanding between Scamacca and Lucas Paqueta is something fans want to see more of. Jarrod Bowen has struggled for form, which has seen him miss out on the World Cup. Of the other new signings, Thilo Kehrer has looked a good defender but the decision to play him at right back seems questionable. Often caught out of position, is he really the best right back at the club? On the other side Aaron Cresswell continues to perform well but he has been losing pace over recent years - this cost West Ham dear last year in the latter stages of the Europa League. It was surprising with all the buying in the summer that a recognised left back was not brought in. Emerson Palmeira came from Chelsea but he seems more of a left wing back - a like for like replacement for Arthur Masuaka. Moroccan Nayef Aguerd was a £30 million signing but got a serious injury in pre-season, which has delayed his arrival in the first team. He though looks a good player, who should form a strong centre back partnership with Kurt Zouma. So there are many positives, including the creative cutting edge of Said Benrahma and solid efforts from Pablo Formals, who seems to be adding more goals to his game. Leicester City manager Brendan Rodgers nicely summarised David Moyes problems, after the final game before the World Cup break. He pointed to the great job Moyes has done over the last three seasons, bringing regular European football to a club that was previously a regular relegation contender. Rodgers also highlighted the need for the new faces to settle and to recognise that older players are declining. This latter category would include Cresswell, Craig Dawson, Angelo Ogbonna and Michail Antonio. Moyes and his team will find the winning formula, again, if they are allowed the time. There is a changing of the guard underway. Nor have West Ham had the greatest fortune in the first 15 games, controversially denied a perfectly good goal and a point against Chelsea. Then, there was the referee interference and denied penalty against Southampton. The team were also unfortunate to not get something out of the games against Nottingham Forest, Liverpool and Manchester United. The fans need to reflect how far the team has come in the last three seasons, it's not time to be booing the team off the field. There is still much to come from Moyes team, when this transition phase is complete. A bit of patience, will see the results come, maybe a Cup and top eight finish, who knows?

West Ham outplayed by Leicester City at the London Stadium

West Ham 0-2 Leicester City West Ham will feel the World Cup cannot come soon enough, after the third home defeat in a week, this time against Leicester at the London Stadium. The West Ham side is very much a work in progress and they are not going in the right direction at the moment. The visitors were ahead inside seven minutes, when the impressive James Maddison, started the move, with a back heel. The sequence finished with Harvey Barnes turning the ball inside to Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall who passed across the penalty area for Maddison to smash into the roof of the net. The West Ham defenders went missing. Lukasz Fabianski then pushed over a long range shot from Daniel Amarty. West Ham's first real effort saw a sequence started by Said Benrahma, exchanging with Lucas Paqueta and Tomas Soucek before the little Algerian saw his effort on the turn saved by Danny Ward. West Ham were then denied an equaliser, when Bowen set up Soucek to fire home but the goal was ruled out for offside. An incident packed half ended with Fabianski saving a penalty from Youri Tielemans. The penalty award came when Craig Dawson was beaten for pace by Patson Daka, and finished up upending the player in the area. The second half began promisingly for the home side, with Declan Rice putting his header from a corner narrowly over. A Thilo Kehrer cross then skidded across the area, with no one on hand to tap home. Leicester secured the points, though, with 20 minutes to go. A break away saw Ayoze Perez put Ashley Barnes away, Fabianski came out to intercept but the striker finished coolly putting the ball past the keeper. Leicester manager Brendan Rodgers paid tribute to his board for sticking by him, when things were not going so well at the start of the season. He recalled how in the first seven games of the season, his team played well but weren't consistent. After a defeat against Bournemouth, they got together focusing on how to defend and press. "The players have been brilliant and it is huge testament to the board,"said Rodgers. "The owners let me get on with the work without pressure." The Leicester manager also praised his opposite number David Moyes, highlighting his outstanding record over recent seasons, bringing European football to West Ham. Rodgers felt the new players are still bedding in, whilst some of the older players are in decline. Moyes felt his team played well for large periods of the game. "At the moment the mistakes we are making are being punished. I thought the players worked unbelievably hard today to get a result. We are all disappointed and have to take stock,'" said Moyes, who admitted the team have a real problem scoring goals at the moment.

Wanstead Park cannot be left to just deteriorate

The sight of the deteriorating state of the Ornamental lake in Wanstead Park has caused much concern. The water drained out of most of it over the summer, with a variety of vegetation now growing in the space. Trees have fallen from the bank across the area that used to contain water. There is also a variety of rubbish strewn around. The loss of water from the lake has been an ongoing problem over the years. Even at time of flooding, when the lake filled and overflowed, the retention level was not good. Within three months most of the gain had been lost. So there is a basic problem on water retention. However, it has been known for over a decade that there are ongoing problems with the waterways of the park. In 2009, the park was put on the English Heritage at risk register, specifically in relation to the waterways - it remains there. Somewhat ironically, during the interim period there was considered to be a flood risk, involving the River Roding and the park. The Corporation of London were required under a statutory duty to address the issue. More than £10 million was earmarked to do the work Since then, though, further investigations have revealed that more moderate work needs to be done, costing much less. The £10 million has evaporated with the water. There are efforts being made to find ways of sourcing more water to the lakes, though delays continue. The City of London Corporation, which takes care of the area, have been struggling to get a backlog of jobs done dating back to the pandemic. They have lost staff, which have to be replaced. All the time, the work mounts up. The worry must be that empty lakes, like the Ornamental, become normalised as part of a pattern of overall deterioration. This cannot be allowed to happen. Wanstead Park and Flats form an incredibly important part of the biodiversity of the area. They are much loved and need careful management and nurturing. A big effort is needed now to retain the integrity of this precious green lung in our area. It cannot be allowed to just deteriorate. The lakes need restoring to their former glory.

Tired West Ham beaten by rampant Crystal Palace

West Ham 1-2 Crystal Palace Crystal Palace emerged deserved winners of this hard fought derby game against West Ham at the London Stadium. The young Palace side were more inventive throughout, as West Ham huffed and puffed, lacking the imagination needed to open up the visitors. It was somewhat against the run of play that West Ham took the lead on the half hour.Thilo Kehrer fed the ball inside to Lucas Paqueta, who laid the ball into the path of Said Benrahma, who steadied himself before rifling the ball home from just outside the penalty area. A sloppy piece of defending five minutes before half time gifted Palace the equaliser. Craig Dawson played the ball wide on the right, stretching Kehrer, which let Eberechi Eze, dispossess him and cross the ball into the path of Wilfred Saha, who slammed home. Palace started the second half strongly, with Eze and Michael Olise going close. Zaha then looked to be through on goal before a crucial saving tackle from Dawson. The substitution of Benrahma half way through the second half was greeted with boos from home fans, who loudly applauded one of West Ham's most inventive players on the day, as he left the field to be replaced by Manuel Lanzini. It later emerged that Benrahma had been a fitness doubt on the day, helping prompt the early withdrawal. By contrast the replacement of Tomas Soucek with Flynn Downes drew applause. Palace looked set to take the lead, when Saha put Eke through on goal but the midfielder lost his footing at the crucial moment. West Ham's best moment of the second half came when Lanzini put Michail Antonio away. He appeared to be impeded by the keeper, leading referee Paul Tierney to award a penalty. The decision though was overturned, after a VAR check. The game looked set for a draw, when two minutes into injury time the ball came out to Olise, who stepped inside to curl an exquisite shot beyond a diving Lukasz Fabianski into the far corner. The goal stunned West Ham fans but they could not complain on a day when their side were second best all afternoon. There is much for manager David Moyes to sort out including the dip in form of £30 million summer signing Gianluca Scammaca and who is the club's best right back? Moyes was magnanimous in defeat, conceding Palace were the better team. "Recent performances have given us confidence. Yet you have to say Crystal Palace played better," said Moyes."We are doing ok but can do better." Crystal Palace manager Patrick Vieira felt his side deserved to win. "We played some good football at times and deserved to win," though, he felt that there is still much to work on.

Democracy in peril

The recent comings and goings of Prime Minister's has brought the whole democratic process into disrepute. The damage done to the economy, pre-empting a possible whole new period of austerity will hit everyone. It has seemed at times like a private game of past the Premiership between a group of entitled Conservative politicians. Politicians at all levels have been held with increasing contempt over recent years. The expenses scandal seemed to set the ball rolling. The refusal to listen and act on what the people demand from not going to war in Iraq to the failure to deliver on the climate crisis. People want honesty and integrity in their politicians. They also want action and stability. The erosion of trust in politicians and democracy seems even greater in the US. The supporters of Donald Trump and a large part of the Republican Party have adopted the stance that any election they do not win is rigged. The excellent ITV documentary: America - the War within by Robert Moore exposed how dangerous this movement is becoming, preparing for some sort of civil war. They are attempting to get their people in control of the electoral process, at the upcoming mid-term elections, ready for the next Presidential election - when Trump is expected to run again - in 2024. Democracy really is hanging by a thread in the US. The reaction must be for people to step forward to defend democracy. This means first and foremost voting. Not voting is an abrogation of responsibility. People died across the world to secure this very basic right to have some say in how our lives are run. Beyond voting, more people need to come forward to represent their communities. Join parties or stand as independents to represent communities. The paucity of talent, seen across the political spectrum, is due to a failure to attract more people of all talents from across society. In order that this can happen people need support - financially in some cases - to be able to make that stand. The factionalism and cronyism at all levels of government needs to stop.The successful leaders of political parties down the ages have been those who put people in position who have the talent to do the job. Whether they are left, right or centre does not matter, the ability to do the job is what counts. Overall there needs to be a reconnection between the people and political process, failure to do so will see the extinguishing of democracy as the world plunges towards authoritarian dictatorship.