Excitement of watching wildlife

The bittern is an iconic bird, much admired by birdwatchers across the land. Many, though, have yet to see the bird in the wild. The bittern has featured in a number of wildlife programs recently. The presenters setting out to spot the diminutive bird but on most occasions failing - not great TV you might think! But the magic of the bird remains. A brown streaked bird that merges in perfectly amongst the reeds where it lives. The bittern is a member of the heron family, being slightly smaller in size than the grey herons that are so plentiful in Wanstead Park and along the River Roding. The bittern was threatened with extinction a few years ago but has made a great recovery with the help of conservationists. The bittern was a bird that I had longed to see for many a year. Three years ago I was lucky enough to briefly spot one at Rye Harbour in Sussex. At the time, I had almost given up hope, despite hearing the characteristic booming for days. Then, suddenly one rose out of the reed bed, flew a short distance and disappeared into another mass of reeds. All over in a minute, but what a view! It was an exciting moment. Unfortunately, that was my one and only sighting. Bitterns, though, have been seen at the Fisher Green reserve in Cheshunt, with occasional visitors at other places around London. Norfolk is a favourite place. Local birders here hold out hopes that one might one day come to reeds around Wanstead but better not hold your breath. It is a special moment, when you spot a creature in the wild that you have never seen before. A few years ago, I remember first seeing a kingfisher, that flash of emerald back and bronze chest flying down the river. Then, another, sitting on a branch. There have been a few sightings now over the years but it is still always exciting to see the little bird in action. A most recent wildlife spot was an otter, not, unfortunately on the River Roding (not for want of trying). This was an early morning in Oxfordshire, in a pool just off the Thames. Rings of water and then three otters appeared, one out of the water, the other two heads just showing - it was a great moment. I live in hope of seeing one of the Roding otters soon! There really is some fantastic wildlife around this area, so get out and have a look. Not every trip will be successful, indeed most won't. But that occasion when you see your first otter, bittern, kingfisher, or something else altogether will live with you for ever. It will be a really great moment to savour.

Review of Peak Injustice by Danny Dorling

A third of children in the UK live under the poverty line. The UK is now the second most unequal society in Europe, only Bulgaria is worse. It was not ever thus, back in 1976, the UK was the second most equal country, after Sweden, and people were happier. These are some of the salient facts brought together in this impressive work from social geography professor Danny Dorling. Dorling seeks to pull together a number of the threads that make up one of the most unequal societies in the world. Many of the arguments are familiar, from his previous works Shattered Nation, Seven Children and Slowdown. This should come as no surprise give that each chapter relates to a separate piece written at different times over the years. This can give a dated feel at times, especially, since the Labour Government came to power last year. The strength, though, is that all the works remain true, proving the correctness of the original analysis, even when a few years old. The arguments are familiar, as revealing a certain frustration in the author, as he battles to show the injustice of such an unequal society, whilst always pointing to the fact there is another better way. Hope is always there. One of the hopeful times was when Jeremy Corbyn became leader of the Labour Party, carrying the hopes of many, especially the young, with him. Another way of doing things was put on the public agenda. The 2017 general election result was a high point. The personal attacks on Corbyn, then went into over drive. Dorling, though, does think Corbyn should have hit back harder against his critics. The impression of a country drowning, as it slides down the international scale is hard to escape. The underfunding of health, education and welfare. High poverty levels. How the decay of the UK made the country more vulnerable to COVID, when it came along. There are some interesting insights on COVID, such as that between 2020 and 2023, 15% of men and 10% of women of 90 plus died earlier that they would otherwise have done. Also, that excess death levels in the population were higher in the autumn of 2015, than 2020, yet this hardly got a mention in the media, at the time. Dorling points out that austerity policies killed more than COVID and ofcourse there was cross over. He claims that: "as many as two million were killed through the actions of the government that had been in power up to 2023." Housing receives much attention, with the fact that there are enough rooms in the country to house the population but many are empty. The author suggests that a drop in prices, maybe via a housing crash, could free up property and enable a realignment. Rent controls or another event could trigger this. Dorling is a keen advocate of land and wealth taxes. He would also like to see all student debt cancelled. He points out that countries that tax at higher rates have better education, health and transport, less pollution, better housing outcomes and less use of anti-depressants. The hope that things can improve often comes from looking to other countries. Finland is a favourite, with people happy to pay taxes for public services. The society is not polarised like the UK and people are happier and healthier. Nearer to home. the Scottish government is more progressive, not having the two child benefit limit. They have also had a Scottish child payment, since 2021, of £25 a week for those in need. The result is that child poverty levels are 24% of the population and falling. By contrast, in England the level is 29% and rising. Dorling estimates child poverty costs the UK £39 billion a year. The author also applauds recent pay deals for rewarding the lowest paid with higher settlements, so closing the inequality gap a little. So it is not all bad news. Dorling believes that UK society is at Peak Injustice, so things should get better, as the country comes down from the peak.(Peak Inequality came in 2018). Peak Stupidity came in Spring 2024. Let's hope he is correct, with society moving towards being more just, cohesive and equal. Though, given the present direction of travel, I wouldn't hold your breath. Published by Policy Press, £14.99

World peace means confronting warmongers

The geopolitical map has certainly been shaken since Donald Trump began his second term as President. He said in the campaign for office that he would resolve the war in Ukraine. Moves do appear to be being made in that direction. Most concerning for Europeans, though, is what that peace will look like. It has been interesting to see the question of Ukraine's mineral wealth suddenly being raised by President Trump. Over the previous three years of war, these resources rarely got a mention in the media discourse. Despite, ofcourse, being a crucial part of the war equation. Indeed, that discourse was one of unending war, causing death and destruction whilst the cash tills of the arms companies rang ever louder. At least now some of the issues are up front. The concerns for European countries and particularly the UK is a new defence burden that it seems will be placed on them. The new US administration expects Europe to pick up the bill for it's defence. In the Ukraine context, this could mean a peacekeeping force. This will cost billions. That money will come from other areas of government. It will mean less money for essential services at home and abroad. Already, Prime minister Kier Starmer has declared aid to the poorest in the world will be cut to make up the defence budget rise. The UK is in a very vulnerable position, out of the EU, and in a different relationship with America. Potentially a small isolated country in the north of Europe. How the UK government plays it's hand will have serious consequences for now and future generations. The present government would do well to remember the warning of a former US President, Dwight D Eisenhower, who on leaving office in 1961, warned of the power and growing influence of the military industrial complex. A group who profit from war. They have grown as President Eisenhower warned, wielding huge influence. And for every penny spent on war there is less for everything else. Eisenhower declared: "Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired signifies, in the final sense, a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and are not clothed." He went on, describing this, as "not a way of life at all." "Under the cloud of threatening war, it is humanity hanging from a cross of iron." Good politicians know when to stand up to the generals and arms companies. We desperately need peace in the world but must not mortgage the future to the weapons industry and those who depend for their existence on war. It is a fine line to tread but all must proceed with care in order to ensure a peaceful future.

Life beyond the mobile phone

A friend of mine recently had her phone stolen. She had just returned from some time away and was caught unawares at the airport. The loss, threw her life upside down for a few days, until she got a replacement organised. It is only when such unpleasant things happen that it becomes apparent how dependent people have become on mobile phones and other technology. Walking along the street people are engrossed in their phones. Some are so much in the virtual world that they are likely to physically bump into others in the real world. How long before the generation arises that can only communicate by phone? It is not an unusual sight to see a number of people meeting socially together, sitting at a table, all on the phone - supposedly not to each other! There was a recent interesting comment from writer and comedian Ben Elton, who said smart phones had stolen children's childhoods. He has a point. Maybe the effort of some schools to ban mobiles in school is an effort to reclaim some of that childhood. That is not to say that the mobile phone is not a fantastically useful device that has revolutionised the way we live. There is so much information available via the phone. It is a way to stay connected to others. A protection for many. But has it not also fostered a strange dependency. In the days before mobiles (yes, there was a time), people could go out, navigate their way around and come home without the phone. Now, separation from the device seems to have a traumatic effect on many. The mobile phone companies have done a great job in selling their product. It has fostered dependency, as well as providing an important social service. The mobile is not going away and nor should it. But the push to have literally everything on the phone maybe going a bit too far. The phone opens up services and information but a rush to only on phone info will exclude some. There are people who refuse to have phones. I have to admit to a sneaking admiration. But what happens to such independent spirits as phone dependency increases. There is talk of phasing out landlines. Where does that leave such people? My friend, who lost her phone, does not have a landline -the absence, makes the feeling of being isolated and cut off all the greater, without the mobile. Landlines must stay. We all also need a break from the phone and maybe other technologies. It must be good to zone out for a while now and again. Also, why not make some person to person contact, not always via phone? To paraphrase the old BT advert, it's good to talk but add in person.

Time to renounce the migrants hate rhetoric and tell another story

The ongoing demonisation of migrants and refugees continues to pick up pace. The return of Donald Trump as US President has enhanced the process, as he talks in terms of invasions and enemies of America. Walls are to be built, migrants incarcerated in Guantanamo Bay and other detention centres. This country is not much better. Migrants have been vilified for many years, even whilst so many staffed the care homes and hospitals, built the houses, harvested the crops and worked in hospitality. Instead of gratitude, there is an ongoing hostility, seeking to criminalise and stigmatise, those who have in the main contributed to the betterment of society. On the refugee side, the small boats saga has been blown out of all proportion, by spineless politicians egged on by a racist media selling it's own products on the back of fuelling hate. Most of those coming across the Channel are desperate, fleeing for their lives. It is not coincidental that most also come from war torn countries like Syria, Afghanistan and Iraq. In terms of economic migrants, the country needs a steady flow to make the economy grow. The UK has a rapidly ageing population, with over 65s increasingly outnumbering under 16s. The government continually talks of the millions of economically inactive people, then, about growth. So, how in a country, with so many inactive, are we going to get that magic growth without migrants? This country desperately needs migrant labour, vilifying them, whilst creating a different kind of hostile environment, will not encourage people to come. The fruits of attacking migrants and refugees was seen last summer with the riots across the country. The government responded firmly, with heavy punishments delivered by the courts. In Walthamstow, among other places, people came out to say no. But since then, the cowardice of the political class has resurfaced. The anti- migrant rhetoric of Reform, with Kemi Badenoch's Tory Party running to keep up. And, the other parties have shown worrying tendencies to emulate, rather than stand up to, the Reform agenda. The result of such an approach will deliver Nigel Farage as the next Prime Minister. The time now is to state a clear pro-migrant, inclusive narrative, not retire into the tired recesses of racism and hate. Let's be bold renounce anti-migrant based racism and tell another story.

Animal Farm - Stratford East

This excellent adaptation of George Orwell's iconic book gives a real contemporary feel to proceedings. The original book published in 1945, saw Orwell drawing what he saw as lessons from the early years of the Russian revolution. This Tatty Hennessy adaptation centres more on power dynamics, manipulation of group situations and inequality. In places there is more than a hint of the recent history of the Labour Party, with a popular leader ousted and a manipulative shadowy figure putting his man into the top job. The role of manipulative pig, Squealer (Tom Simper), has certainly been made far more prominent than in the original book. A cross between Peter Mandelson and Uriah Heep. There is some blurring of lines, possibly due to having to compact so much narrative into the limited time frame. For example, the dogs appear a far more terrifying force, serving the pigs, in the book. In the play, the single dog is an enforcer but also seems an ambivalent part of the group at times. Hayley Grindle, set & costume designer, does an excellent job, with the split stage. The animals below, whilst power resides in a sealed board room structure above.The pigs move to inhabit the board room. There is also a factory farm feel to the set. Tachia Newall nicely builds the role of Napoleon, overthrowing his rival, Snowball, and taking power. The effort to control the group, with fear engendered regarding traitors and enemies outside, also has a nice contemporary feel. The line :"All animals are equal. But some animals are more equal than others,"rings as true today, as in the 1940s. Napoleon's tour de force is a final speech where he displays the contempt of the ruling elite for the workers that they exploit. There is a real energy about the play throughout, conveyed by clever choreography of movement. A great strength of this production is that it can stand alone, relatable to life today. This owes much to Hennessy 's adaptation and the direction of Amy Leach. It keeps the audience engaged throughout. Well worth seeing. Runs till 8 March, then Leeds Playhouse 12 to 29 March and Nottingham Playhouse 2 to 12 April.

Pontiffs, politics and power

Vatican Spies by Yvonnick Denoel Anyone who had their appetite wetted for more Vatican intrigue, after seeing the film Conclave, will love this book. Vatican Spies reveals much about how the Catholic Church developed it's own intelligence network, often with the help of other agencies such as the CIA, French and Italian security services. The interactions with the Mafia during the World War II period at the behest of America, and getting caught up with the Mob through various dodgy financial dealings, makes for a fascinating read. The Catholic Church with it's universal reach to 1.2 billion Catholics worldwide, connected by a network of parishes and dioceses, amounts to a spy masters dream. On the face of it virtuous and God serving, below the surface as ruthless and brutal as any other intelligence operation. The author charts the development of the Church's intelligence capabilities through the popes from World War II up to the present day. Pope Pius XII (1939 - 1958) really got things moving. Prior to the war the Church mobilised against the Soviet Block. Anti-communism was the watchword. The Nazis, then, became the focus during the war, with Pius XII developing strong links with US President Franklin Roosevelt and the CIA. The President used the Church to bring the Mafia in on the allies side in Italy. The Church seemed to have a mixed war. Pius XII was sympathetic early on to those among the German military who wanted to overthrow Hitler. The Vatican also sheltered Jews and ensured safe passage. Irish priest Father Hugh O'Flaherty oversaw this work. On the debit side was an odd relationship with the Ustasha Croats, who killed thousands. After the war, the Church helped a number of these Nazis find their way to sanctuary in Argentina. Post war, the Vatican's intelligence focus swung back towards the anti-communist, anti- Soviet stance. Pius XII joined in with the Americans to oppose the Communist Party coming to power in Italy. The Church's financial institutions were a conduit for US sourced millions to be pumped into the Christian Democrats, so ensuring their electoral success. Catholics were told they must not support the Communists. A panic about the Communists potentially coming to power in Italy during the late 1940s saw the Irish government consider the Pontiff taking refuge in Ireland. Author, Denoel examines the formation of the different Popes, among the Curia and operating as Secretaries of State in the Vatican before getting the big job. After Pius XII came the more liberal John XXIII (1958 - 1963) and Paul VI (1963-1978). The 33 day papacy of John Paul I in 1976 is dealt with in an even handed way. Denoel does not buy into the popular view that he was murdered, more that he just wasn't cared for. John Paul II (1976-2005) is the ultimate spy masters Pope, involved at every level in a crusade against the Eastern Block, most predominantly relating to his native Poland. The author highlights the contradiction in John Paul II that saw him totally back the Solidarity trade union in Poland, whilst siding with the most brutal American backed dictators in Latin America, against the liberation theology of the people, embracing the church of the poor. Denoel states that: "for the Reagan administration, no battle was more important than that against the theology of liberation." This reached a crescendo against the Sandinistas in Nicaragua and the murder of Archbishop Oscar Romero in El Salvador. The relationship between the Vatican and a US President was never closer than between John Paul II and Reagan. The author, though, does dismiss the socialist inspired liberation theology movement far too easily. An interesting section of the book looks at the strained relationship between the Vatican and Israel, compared to the warmth of relations with the Palestinians. It was not until 1993 that the Catholic Church recognised Israel. The wind tended to go out of John Paul II's sails after the Eastern Block collapsed, with the various scandals, particularly around Vatican finances, deaths and paedophiles, embracing his papacy. The present Pope Francis is seen as trying to modernise and clean up the Vatican His dislike of the Curia is well documented. He is credited for bringing together US President Barack Obama and Cuba's Raul Castro to improve relations between the two countries. Yvonnick Denoel has produced a comprehensive, very detailed account of how the Vatican has operated since the 1930s. It will amaze and appall readers at the same time. What is clear is that the Catholic Church developed a capability to interfere in sovereign countries affairs at least as much as any of the Eastern or Western intelligence agencies, often involving one or the other and sometimes both of these. Certainly a good read. Published by Hurst, £25 Published - Irish Post - 8/2/2025