Big oil needs to pay for the climate crisis it caused

The role of the fossil fuel industry in causing, then thwarting, efforts to address climate change are revealed in the excellent three-part BBC documentary, Big Oil v the World. The documentary shows how researchers at the US giant oil company Exxon (Esso here) found in the late 70s early 80s just how destructive their products could be. They knew then, from their own research, what would happen if things did not change. But instead of sounding the alarm, the industry set off on a line of denial. It funded and promoted climate deniers against bonafide scientists. A big media disinformation campaign was launched. Politicians that attempted to address the issue were thwarted and in a number of cases forced out of office. Part of the success of this strategy saw the arrival of President Donald President. A time of free for all for oil and gas companies, whilst climate denial took on an almost religious fervour in parts of America. Former vice president Al Gore describes what has gone on, as tantamount to a war crime. So much devastation that has been caused across the world could have been avoided, if action had been taken earlier. Yet, whenever it looked like something was about to happen, under the Clinton administration, then briefly George Bush and finally Barack Obama, these powerful vested interests mobilised to ensure that it didn't. Big Oil v the World shows the vulnerability of democracy, when powerful vested interest mobilise in such a way. Court cases are now proceeding in the US against the companies for what they knew and what they did. The Biden administration has just passed its huge program to cut emissions, so there is hope. But what we should be calling for is for these huge fossil fuel companies to pay for what needs to be done to address the crisis. They willingly caused it, so why not the clear up? Huge reperations are due. Getting these companies to pay will not be easy. At one point in the noughties, they mobilised against the providers of renewable energy. It is also a sobering thought that despite the efforts being made to address the climate crisis, more oil and gas is now being produced than ever before. There is a long way to go but everyone has a part to play in saving the planet. * Big Oil v the World is on BBC i-player

Hearing difficulties shouldn't turn people into social outcasts

Deafness is a big problem in society. One in six (11 million) people have hearing difficulties. Some 40% of those over 50 have hearing problems, with that figure rising to 70% at the age of 70. A concern is the number of people who have hearing issues but are not receiving any help or support with the problem. I have had hearing difficulties for a few years. Originally, I went to the doctor, who sent me onto the audiology department. They found some hearing loss due to an infection a few years previously. I was marginal for hearing aids, so decided I might as well get them. The hearing has got worse as the years have gone by, with dependency on the hearing aids growing. You develop coping mechanisms - avoiding certain situations etc. When first diagnosed on hearing I tended to dismiss links to mental health issues and tendencies toward isolation but I can now see how this happens. There really seems to be very little support and monitoring of hearing problems. In my own case, it seemed a bit like dish out some hearing aids, problem solved - now you get on with it. After three years I questioned whether there shouldn't be a check up (of me and the hearing aids). This needed another GP referral, so back I went and again was referred. A new audiology department, based at Whipps Cross, took up the case. Another examination, with better hearing aids supplied. A suggestion that the ears need syringing but I'd have to sort that out myself. There was to be a facility at the hospital to obtain hearing aid batteries and get things checked. However, when I recently asked about this, the facility is no longer available. Back to the GP again I guess, for anything beyond hearing aid part and battery replacement services, which are done by post. This does not seem a very good level of care. Hearing is a key sensory issue. It needs treatment and monitoring. Failure to provide the requisite care will see people slip off the radar and into greater isolation. It seems unless you are pushy and pro active, this is exactly what happens. How many people out there just put up with it? It is unacceptable to let people drift into isolation, with all the social and mental health consequences this can have. There have been links drawn between deafness and dementia. It is difficult not to think that hearing loss is treated as a second rate condition that is not given priority. Something that happens with age. Also, it is difficult not to think that the implication is if an individual requires the standard level of care they should be receiving on the NHS, then they have to go private and pay for the privilege. Ofcourse I am drawing some conclusions here from my own singular experience, it would be interesting to know how others have got on? Hearing loss is widespread.Yet, it is not something that should consigned to a second class system of care or impose a limited existence on those growing numbers who endure the condition

Time to act on climate change is running out, as trigger factors come into play

The incredible damage being caused across the world at present by runaway climate change should alarm everyone. We are enroute to hitting 3 degree warming, 1.5 degrees above the target set in Paris seven years ago. The words of Sir Nicholas Stern in his groundbreaking report to the UK government in 2006 ring loud and clear. He said act now or pay more later. We've failed to act and are now paying a spiralling price. More resources are having to be devoted to the consequences of climate change, fires, drought and floods, rather than trying to address the cause. The question also looms as to whether it is too late, whether the triggers have been hit that cause run away climate change. The scientists whose warnings have been attacked by the climate sceptic, fossil fuel funded, lobby, are proving correct. In fact, they are proving if anything to be too conservative as climate change impacts far quicker than prophesied. There needs to be urgent action taken now - climate and biodiversity destruction represent the greatest threat to the world - it is high time it was treated as such by political leaders of the present and future generations.

West Ham outclassed by Manchester City

West Ham 0-2 Manchester City West Ham succumbed easily against a Manchester City side playing well within themselves at the London Stadium. The home side somehow managed to start the season without four recognised centre backs (Craig Dawson, Angelo Ogbonna and Nayef Aguerd all injured, Issa Diop not available to play), forcing full back Ben Johnson to play as makeshift in the role, with Declan Rice playing deeper than usual to try to cover. The one cause for optimism came with some nice touches from new striker Gianluca Scamacca. But the headlines were taken by City's new striker Erling Haaland, who clinically took his two chances. The first came after City had dominated first half possession. Haaland was put through by Ilkay Gundogan into the penalty area, where substitute keeper Alphonse Areola brought the big Norwegian down. Haaland duly converted the penalty to register his first goal for City. The away side were unlucky not to go further ahead after half time, when a ball was swept across, finishing with Gundogan driving wide. West Ham then rallied, with substitute Said Benrahma forcing a save out of Ederson. But the West Ham comeback was quickly snuffed out, when Kevin De Bruyne found Haaland with a brilliant through ball. The striker duly finished, stroking the ball under the advancing Areola. The best effort from West Ham came in the 72nd minute, when Vladimir Coufal found Scamacca with a cross from the right. The big strikers header was pushed wide by Ederson at full stretch, though Scamacca would have been ruled out for offside.. West Ham manager David Moyes admitted to being outwitted by City, who played their full backs so far up. "Today, tactically, they were best. We tried to press but couldn't," said Moyes. "They completely outplayed us." City manager Pep Guardiola described his team's performance as "exceptional in every way." Guardiola was pleased with Haaland's performance, declaring he would not solve all the problems but be part of the team. "We want to add something more to his game, to make him a better player" , said Guardiola.

Time to renationalise public services

A recent report from the Environment Agency (EA) described the performance of nine water and sewerage companies as "shocking" when it comes to pollution. The EA went onto call for "prison sentences for chief executives and board members whose companies are responsible for the most serious incidents." This report is but the latest expose of the lamentable failure that has been the privatisation of the water industry. Southern Water was fined £90 million last year for dumping sewage in the sea and waterways. Water companies continue with the practice. So what has privatisation of the water system done for the common good of our society? Large amounts of money that have been paid out to shareholders over the years could have been invested in the system, instead it has gone into private pockets. These companies seek to cut costs in every way possible, from cutting workers pay and conditions to failing to mend leaks in the networks. The leaking of sewage into the waterways is also no doubt linked to better shareholder return. How can the water industry remain in private hands, especially with the growing demands being put on it by the deepening climate crisis? Similar arguments can be made about other privatised national services. The UK rail network must be the laughing stock of the world. It is not owned and run by the British state but other states. State owned rail companies such as Abello (Dutch), Arriva (German) and Govia (part French) profit from operating in the UK market. They then no doubt use the profits made in the UK to subsidise their own state run systems. Not surprisingly the UK has some of the most expensive rail fares in the world. Energy is another area, where so many of the companies that have entered the market are no more than energy speculators. They provide nothing toward providing a safe and secure energy network. Royal Mail is one of the recent privatisations. Previously, when under state ownership, profitable parts of the business, like parcels, were able to subsidise loss makers like remote rural mail deliveries. That is now all gone - the market decides. The privatisation of public utilities has been a complete disaster. It has resulted in vital services being run for private profit, rather than the public good. Any government seeking to sort out the mess that is the British economy should start by taking these services back into public ownership, thereby ensuring they are being run for the common good of all, not the private benefit of a few. Let's also remember it was a nationally owned and run public service that saw everyone through the Covid pandemic, namely the NHS. A service that is run for the common good of all

No time to be putting the green agenda on the backburner

One of the more alarming elements of the ongoing insular process to select a new leader of the Conservative Party has been the rush of most the candidates to ditch green policies. Whilst, it seems that most will say anything, no matter how nonsensical eg pledges to cut taxes whilst committing to spend more, the attack on green issues betrays a climate sceptic mindset. Nothing new with the Conservatives ofcourse, former Prime Minister David Cameron famously boosting his green credentials, with stunts involving huskies, pre-election, only to later talk of ditching the green crap, once in power. The attitude of the present candidates seems to be that the planet can wait, put the problem on the back burner until the country can afford to deal with climate and biodiversity disasters. Extraordinary, given the recent heatwave that saw infrastructure crumbling and much of the country on fire. Already, the shift is beginning from stopping climate change to dealing with the consequences There is a remarkable lack of political will to act on the environmental crisis. Nationally, the present Prime Minister talks the talk but what about delivery? Local authorities declare climate emergencies, draw up policy responses but then struggle to fund them - often due to financial restraint from central government. As people have sweltered in near 40 degree heat, one does have to wonder what is needed for the penny to drop. The climate and biodiversity crisis are here and now. Heatwaves, wild fires and floods are spreading across the planet. The rich world can no longer takes its immoral stance that it is not really happening to them. It is now four years since the International Climate Committee's report declared that there were 12 years to address the problems or it would be too late. Over those four years there has been much hot air expended, committing to targets but a universal failure to deliver. Now is the time for action, not more vacuous talk. The general public recognise the need for action, though are sometimes less happy to accept the changes this will mean in their own personal lives. What no one should accept is a head in the sand approach as the fires come closer and the waters rise higher. Something that the new Conservative leader and others would do well to heed.

Football is about entertainment - time wasting and gamesmanship is killing the game

The new football season is set to kick off in a couple of weeks - some will think it has never been away. There is the usual buzz of anticipation from the fans, as clubs recruit new players and let others go. Who will be the winners and losers? This will be a different season, starting earlier, then breaking for a month in November, while the World Cup is being played. Whenever, the World Cup comes round, the old newsreels comes out from when England last won it in 1966. The iconic moment when Geoff Hurst blasted home the fourth goal from 25 yards in injury time. It was a long time ago, with the game changing much over the ensuing years. If the game were played today, Hurst would not have been in that position to fire home but down by the corner flag, holding the ball up, whilst running down the clock. There were no substitutes in 1966, teams will be able to use five (up from three) in the coming season. Dare I say it, more opportunities for managers to run down the clock with needless substitutions in the final minutes. Deliberate time wasting is becoming a real problem in the professional game. Watching West Ham last year, it was incredible to see some teams starting to time waste, after just 10 minutes. The goalkeepers regularly taking as long as they could with goal kicks. The only time things changed was when the away side went a goal behind, then there was a rapid reversal of tactics. Arsenal and Brentford were two of the prime time wasting offenders last year. Another, discouraging development in the game is faking injury or maybe call it what it is cheating. Players going down all over the place to try to gain an advantage by getting the game stopped. Some of the play acting would have embarrassed players of yesteryear. These methods of cheating have to stop. Fans pay in excess of £60 to watch a Premiership football match. They pay to be entertained, not witness some sort of of attritional battle between teams using underhand tactics. The cheating can be stopped. Referees need to be less easily take in by the fake injuries. They need to book more players for such behaviour and the time wasting. The time wasted also has to be clearly added on. These are not huge issues but they need addressing The Premier League is probably the best competition in the world Many of the finest players take part, the skill level is incredible, compared to past eras. But the game has also become commodified, everything from the players to franchises. The lifeblood of football is the fans and the bond they have with their clubs. Football administrators need to remember that football first and foremost is an entertainment. There are some growing tendencies in the game at the moment that threaten that entertainment value. The time has come to address these issues - no more blatant time wasting or fake injuries to stop the game. The fans deserve better.