lord of the blog

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Wednesday, August 30, 2006

responses

Apart from a couple of semi abusive comments which I had to edit there was little comment on the climate change issue.

There was an article in yesterdays Guardian which is worth reading: http://environment.guardian.co.uk/energy/story/0,,1860250,00.html

The Carbon Trust have their report out today http://www.thecarbontrust.co.uk

I also discovered a usefull site at http://www.carbonneutral.com/

While we must be seriously concerned about climate change we can't pull the plug on major industries so we have to adapt our technology (see guardian article above) and our behaviour.

If climate change brings on a catastrophic collapse leading to mass extinction (and remember that has happened in the past without any human involvement) then we will have failed. But if we overreact now by closing down our social and economic systems then we will provoke catastrophic social collapse.

So Government, industry and individuals all have a responsibility to find additional ways to reduce carbon emissions but without panic reactions that don't solve the problem.

Heathrow is hardly a good example of environmental policy right now. It could be much better which is why I encourage visionary proposals like the one put forward by ARUP which links Heathrow into the main rail network.

What is wrong with a more co-ordinated transport strategy? It is what they do well on the continent and airports are a crucial part of it.

Final point. Does anyone know the carbon footprint of the Big Brother programme on TV. Those critics who want to ban flying might want to ask what else they ban - all light entertainment on TV perhaps - and WHO is to ban it?

Obesity. Paul. That was a bit of a weak comment even for a Tory. There is a problem about obesity and it has a profound effect on peoples lives especially children. So what would you do about it? And what would David Cameron do about it? 

Sunday, August 27, 2006

Obesity

Since I mentioned this topic a few weeks ago it has hit the headlines again. We cannot be complacent about this issue. Concern about obesity does not mean being prejudiced against fat people.

There are many causes of obesity but the evidence is overwhelming that it causes diabetes, shortens life expectancy and probably has a link to depression.

Should we have a ban on adverts of high fat foods before the 9pm watershed? I think it might help but the key to this has to be a public health education programme combined with emphasis on exercise, and healthy eating.

The NHS link below is a useful place to start for those interested in this.

http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/articles/article.aspx?ArticleID=265

Middle East

After the disastrous war in Lebanon it is even more urgent to get the road map active again. The US has to take the initiative on this but it is also clear that they are not going to do so yet.

So meanwhile we have a very shaky ceasefire with both Israel and Hezbollah having only a limited commitment to maintaining it. At least France has now committed a significant number of troops but their initial reluctance says everything about the problems of the UN.

We all get deeply upset when we see the violence on our TV screens and call for an immediate ceasefire. The UN is then unable to deliver an effective force with a strong mandate so we drift back into war again. meanwhile other countries suffer far greater horrors (Darfur for example) but as we don't see it on our TV screens we get less involved.

That is why I go on about UN reform and about the need to get democratic states with the rule of law and at least a basic commitment to human rights.

I know the Middle East is a flash point of immense importance but our inability to address the problem is part of this wider issue around the UN and the creation of modern nation states.

Taking sides on this issue is particularly tempting when you see a less developed state being attacked by a developed state but that is only part of the picture. The Left in Britain ought to remember that they were very supportive of Israel when it was created. The Arab states did not accept the UN vote because they saw Israel as a colonial imposition.

Terrorism has been used by both Jews and Arabs. Many people have forgotten how terrorism was used against the Arabs and British by Irgun - one of whose leaders later became the prime minister of Israel. It was a particularly ruthless body that booby trapped the bodies of  British soldiers they had executed.

I mention this partly because the historical context is important and partly because both Jews and Arabs are so locked into an absolute belief in the rightness of their cause that almost anything gets justified and neither side has a particularly impressive record of trying to address the concerns of their opponents - which is why outside involvement is essential to get a solution.

We all know what the solution is and the road map lays it out but getting people to act on it is a more difficult matter.

You can easily take sides on this issue and 50 years ago most people on the Left in the UK took Israel's side. now it tends to be the reverse. So maybe we ought to abandon the easy condemnations and focus on how Israel can be guaranteed the right to exist and be free of rocket attacks from political parties based in neighbouring countries and how the Palestinians can also be given a viable and secure state free of Israeli interference.

this is a very short summary of my views and I am conscious that it raises as many questions as it answers.

Thursday, August 17, 2006

Absence makes the heart grow fonder!

My apologies to everyone. I have been away for three weeks and out of effective touch although I have been very aware of world problems and will comment when I have cleared my desk and emails.