Fiona Phillips experience exposes lack of priority given to dementia

Funding for dementia remains very low in the UK, despite one in three people likely to fall victim to the terrible disease. Without wishing to create a hierarchy of suffering, for every pound spend on cancer research, just 31 p is spent on dementia. The subject has jumped up the news agenda recently, with the diagnosis of journalist and former GMTV host, Fiona Phillips, diagnosed with Alzheimers. Her partner, Martin Frizell, has spoken out poignantly about their situation. The non-recognition, shrinking away, wanting to go back to a time in her childhood. Listening to Frizell brought back many of the memories of my own father, when he had dementia. He would suddenly appear in the evening, ready to go home. Explaining this was his home didn't help. The home he was thinking about was the one he grew up in 80 odd years before in Goodmayes. Interestingly, Frizell tells how he has learnt to never disagree, just go along with the fiction. Dad was a strong personality - a former headmaster in Newham. But those strong instincts can make for difficult times, when dementia strikes. His belief he was right saw him get out of the house, not knowing where he was going. This resulted in us all out searching the town to find him. Anything could have happened. There were, though, glimpses of the old Dad, when he had coherent phases. These were precious moments, though sadly, not frequent. Dad died in 2008 but it sounds as though little has improved since then. Martin Frizell was spot on, when he said dementia is seen as an old persons disease. The attitude being that sufferers have had a good innings.. and all the other platitudes. Fiona Philipps is 63, not old, and there are many much younger with the disease. Frizell claimed little has advanced with Alzheimer's since it was first diagnosed in 1912. He is right. There is certainly no prioritisation of the disease, even as it claims more and more victims. If it were prioritised, with the requisite funding provided, then very real progress can be made. Frizell has contributed to a book with Fiona Phillips on what has happened. They make some very valid points. Let's hope those with the power to address dementia are listening. This is a growing problem for our society that needs urgent attention, not outdated views on ageing and the relative values of life.

Review of: The next crisis - what we think about the future by Danny Dorling

Publisher - Verso, £22 The Next Crisis presents a fascinating examination of what are perceived as the crises of our times. The author examines how these crises mean different things for different groups and how elites manipulate priorities. Professor Danny Dorling dives deep into the problems, then comes up with a surprisingly upbeat message of hope for the future. The different crises from cost of living, inequality and poverty to war, violence, healthcare and climate are examined in turn. Then, how they can move around according to the reality of different groups lives, what they fear and why. The Dorling mantra that most of the crises emanate in some way from inequalities in societies, causing poverty and division is central. So, a health crisis like COVID, was dealt with better by more equal countries like Finland. Equally climate and biodiversity crises will be better dealt with by more equal societies. Also, the more equal countries are the happier ones. Dorling looks at immigration, a subject manipulated by elites to stir fear and division. He explains how migrants coming to an area can galvanise economies, whilst their departure triggers unemployment. The danger for an ageing population, like the UK, is in not being able to attract the migrants required to run the economy - not being over run. The present hostile environment is not attracting migrants. Dorling recalls how at Oxford University last summer, post the racist anti-migrant riots, that he and his colleagues wondered whether some students would return for the autumn term. Throughout, there are reminders of the damage done to societies by the rich elites. It is they who damage the planet most, use private planes, private schools, build buy to let portfolios and pass on inherited wealth. Dorling puts the downgrade of climate and biodiversity crises in the ratings across the world as partly due to rich people being the main cause. The promotion of climate skepticism or denial over recent years has profited the rich. Among the answers is the need to reduce inequality and revive the idea of community and social solidarity. Dorling is hopeful for the future, though believes there could be major crises ahead, many not even yet contemplated. This latest book from Danny Dorling is a good read, a little dense at times, but offering a real insight to the problems of the world. It offers a great opportunity to learn more as to why we have the problems we have but also how priorities get manipulated for the benefit of rich elites. There is though a message of hope for the future in troubled times. An important read for those who want to understand better the world in which we live, as well as what might be coming next.

Cheap, efficient, public transport, as well as electrification, have a role to play in sustainable transport system

The growing number of electric powered, rather than petrol and diesel, vehicles on the road is generally viewed as a positive thing. There is government led drive to see all vehicles on the roads being non-fossil fuel consuming by 2035. At local government level, the infrastructure is being developed to provide for the expansion of the electric vehicle sector. Electric vehicles reduce carbon emissions, pollution and noise. What is not to like? But there are critics. They claim that a lot of carbon emissions are created in the manufacture of these vehicles. The batteries, with the mined elements, such as lithium, cobalt and nickel attract particular criticism. There is also the disposal of the batteries, when exhausted. To summarise, critics claim that given the carbon emission costs in manufacture, it will take a very long time to recoup these over the lifetime of the vehicle. No doubt there is some value in this criticism. However, as the technology develops, there should be efficiencies in production that ensure the short term damage done by these vehicles is limited. Also, charging networks need to be sourced with renewable energy. But it is wrong to see replacing petrol and diesel vehicles with electric ones as the panacea to save the planet. The electric car has a part to play but road vehicles generally need to be controlled. The number of cars and car journeys need to come down. This though can only happen if other forms of transport improve and become cheaper. Public transport across the country is not of sufficient standard or cheap enough to fill the void. Cheap, if not free, reliable public transport has a huge role in the future regarding how people get about. Public transport ofcourse needs to be run on renewable energy. The number of vehicles on the road would reduce substantially, if free reliable public transport was available to all. Road space could also be freed up if freight was largely moved from road to rail. In order to achieve such a modal shift in transport away from the car to public transport would involve a large investment in public transport and infrastructure. The tax system could also to be used to incentivise these more sustainable modes of travel. The future of transport in the UK should be made up of a mixture of electric vehicles, renewable energy powered infrastructure and free, efficient public transport. The present incremental approach will see more and more of the country go under concrete, with the ongoing predict and provide model operating. The present piecemeal approach creates ever greater friction between car drivers and everyone else. A more holistic approach is required, taking in all requirements to provide a sustainable, cheap system of travel for all.

Time to call a nature emergency

The world is undergoing a crisis of climate and biodiversity decline. The two things are inextricably linked, with the devastation of natural phenomena, like trees and peat bogs, increasing carbon emissions, which change the climate. Both biodiversity and climate need addressing in unison. Unfortunately, the two things often seem to have been treated as separate, with biodiversity very much the junior partner. Whilst human beings are the cause of much of the destruction creating climate change, their actions on biodiversity border on the suicidal. Some 54% of insects have disappeared between 2004 and 2023. Bees are under threat from insecticides used on the crops. Without these insects, it will be impossible to provide the food we all need to survive. Nearly one in six species in the UK are threatened with extinction. Some 19% of species have become extinct since the 1970s. The present populist rhetoric of some in government that seems to imagine it is bats and newts stopping housing developments rather than greedy profiteers, gaining from land banking, beggars belief. Nature is also vital to the mental and physical wellbeing of human beings. It has been humanities desire to dominate and destroy, rather than work with nature, that has brought the world to crisis point. Yet, despite these stark and alarming statistics, humanity seems content to sleep walk into oblivion. Political leadership is needed, not more denial. Now, is the time to call a nature emergency. A number of councils (28%) around the country have done just that. Locally, this would be something similar to the climate emergency that was passed by Redbridge Council in 2019. A nature emergency would include developing a nature emergency action plan, thereby, ensuring that nature recovery was embedded as a key part of plans and policies. It needs to become a fundamental part of the council DNA, not an add on. One specific would be to manage 30% of council land for nature recovery by 2030. More trees and wild areas. And, the adoption of initiatives like No Mo May. A number of local groups have put a petition on the council petitions site calling for a nature emergency. This enshrines the principles of what is required and can be found at: https://moderngov.redbridge.gov.uk/mgEPetitionDisplay.aspx?ID=2088RPID=81311114&HPID=81311114. The petition and hopefully a motion, with a comprehensive plan, can be brought forward later in the year. There are positive things happening, like the grow zone areas, pollinator pathways, tree planting programs, restore nature pledge, days of community action and the promotion of community gardens. But much more is needed. It is time to put nature front and centre of the environmental emergency. The crisis in nature is on a par with that effecting the climate. It can no longer be treated as a secondary consideration, if the planet is to be saved for our children and children's children the whole crisis must be given priority.

The future of Wanstead Parks' waterways and the River Roding are inextricably linked, so what will be the best outcome?

The competing demands for water in the local area was one theme that came out of a session run last month by Epping Forest in Wanstead Park. Invited to the park, local stakeholders were shown around by Epping Forest staff. The focus was the Park Plan, with projects that had been undertaken and in some cases completed over the past couple of years. On the completion side, there is the floating reed bed on the Heronry lake. Work to restore the Grotto is underway, with refurbishment of the Temple about to start. But perhaps the most interesting proposal is the plan to pump water from the River Roding into the adjacent Ornamental Water (where there has been no water for some time), then onto the other lakes in the park. The new plan in a way operates the opposite way around to the originally designed water system. Then, the water flowed from the Basin on the golf course to the Shoulder of Mutton onto the Heronry Lake, the Perch Pond and finally the Ornamental Water. The old system no longer functions well, with different lakes drying up over recent years. The Ornamental Water in particular does not hold water for long. The stop gap measure of recent times has seen the Environment Agency (EA) granting a licence for Epping Forest to pump water from nearby bore holes into the Heronry Lake and Perch Pond. But this is a short term arrangement, not a permanent solution. Epping Forest are set to replace the old pumphouse with a new one in order to extract water from the River Roding in the winter months. Though, Environment Agency approval is required for this to happen. The role of the River Roding in this equation is an interesting one to ponder. On the one hand, there are the warnings about rising river levels with the onset of climate change. This could put surrounding residential areas under threat of being flooded. A safety valve like extraction of water to expanses like the park can relieve some of these pressures. On the other hand, at present, river levels seem low, with competing interests seeking to draw on already depleted resources. The EA has to decide which interests take priority. There are many calls for water the be restored to the Wanstead Park lakes. Yet, others say why should the river be depleted to maintain a man made structure in what was the play pen of members of the British aristocracy in past centuries? The park, though, as part of Epping Forest, was ofcourse given to the people of London by the Crown in 1878. Indeed, the river used to run through the lake before it was separated off and straightened, as part of the 18th century designs of the park. So there are interesting competing narratives on the question of water supplies. Some imaginative thinking is required from all sides. Pumping water from the Roding into the lakes has a role to play but there will be a question of how much? What will future water levels be on the Roding? Maybe going forward, there should be thought given to developing more reed beds and wetland style terrain, as part of the long term solution. Or some sort of restoration of the original design, with the river running through the lake or controlled by a sluice gate? The park needs to be viewed as but one part of the overall mosaic that includes the River Roding as well as surrounding residential and non-residential areas. A more holistic view is needed to ensure a truly sustainable long term solution.

A dangerous world without rules

The recent events in the Middle East mark the emergence of a new rule-less world. On the basis of Israel, the US and Russia's recent actions in the Middle East and Ukraine, it seems anything goes! This marks the end of the rules based approach to world affairs that has largely operated since World War II. International treaties, overseen by the likes of the United Nations, ensured a steady world peace, though with lesser conflicts and proxy wars still ongoing. The rules based approach was first weakened by the US, when it attacked Iraq without a UN resolution in 2003. The UK duly followed it's special friend into the disastrous conflict. International law was flouted, with no one person or country being brought to account. Next up was Russia invading Ukraine in 2022. No going to the UN, a straight land grab. Thousands dead on both sides with no end in sight. Some 18 months later, Hamas attacked Israel on 7 October 2023, killing 1200 people and taking 251 hostages. Israel claimed. right of self defence, attacking Gaza. The stated object was to defeat Hamas but that action has now gone way beyond self defence. More than 55,000 dead, with the denial of humanitarian aid prolonging the suffering. More than a million people displaced. The US has unquestioningly backed Israel. The British government has backed up its special friend. Now, Israel has attacked Iran. Former US President Bill Clinton has pointed out this attack on Iran has much to do with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyaho staying in power. When the fighting stops Netanyaho is likely to be out of office. Most recently, the US bombs Iran, backing up Israel, on the premise of destroying Iran's nuclear bomb making capability. No reference to the UN or even the US Congress, an attack that could have huge implications for world peace launched by a president allegedly committed to peace. The world is now an even more dangerous place. In the US, the rule of law, seems to have been replaced by the law of the jungle and might is right. In the US, the President does as he pleases, the courts seem to have little power to restrain him. The much vaunted US constitution is being tested to breaking point. So the ideals of the rule of law, democracy and peace are all up for grabs it appears. Whether order and the rule of law can be restored in the US and internationally remains to be seen. The alternative hardly bears thinking about.

The way to counter Reform is not to become more like them

The surge in popularity of the Reform Party is a sign of a general disillusion with the mainstream parties. Reform triumphed in the recent local and regional elections as well as taking the constituency of Runcorn and Helsby from Labour. They look set to eclipse the Conservative Party, if the present direction of travel continues. Worryingly, the two main parties seem to have decided the way to confront Reform is to become more like them. For example, both parties seem keen to vilify migrants. The hope must be that now Reform actually have to run some councils and regional government, they will be exposed. They will learn that negative rhetoric about Low Emission Neighbourhoods and diversity officers in authorities that don't have either cuts little ice in government. The huge costs of providing child and adult social care and housing the homeless, on the other hand, whilst working with reduced budgets, offers a far greater challenge. Both of these needs are statutory requirements for local authorities, so not even Nigel Farage's disciples can dodge the requirement. It has to be hoped that the British electorate do not swallow the reactionary rhetoric of Reform in the same way as the Americans have the mantra of Donald Trump. In the end, if the cutting does not stop the services simply cannot be provided and cease to exist. This is a stark reality that is beginning to hit home in America. Better not to follow that path. But the disillusion of the electorate that is seeing the surge in support for Reform needs to be addressed. The seeds of the present crisis were sown by David Cameron's Conservatives, assisted by it's Liberal Democrat coalition partners, who brought in austerity policies. As a result, millions have hardly seen their wages rise in real terms for over a decade. Public services like the NHS, education, transport and the police have been starved of resources Some clever media and political manipulation managed to convince many people that Europe and migrants were to blame. Enter Brexit. We are all now poorer and the problems are worse.Yet, still we don't seem to learn, the architects of Brexit, were the forerunners of Reform. What is needed is to grow the economy in a sustainable way, ensuring that the fruits of people's labour flows to everyone not just a few. The creation of a more just, equal, functioning society is the way to address Reform, not becoming more like them.