There's Evolution in ..... Revolution

2008-03-25T11:44:00.001Z

Another complaint to Tesco....

I've now started writing for GreenGuysGlobal.com so most of my posts will now be on there, with the odd rant on this blog :) Please stay tuned...

Dear Mr Leahy

I am writing to complain to you about your Tesco store in Branksome, Poole, Dorset.

For several months now I have been disappointed by the lack of customer comment cards in the store. 'We value your opinion' the sign above the comment card collection box says. However there has been no sign of comment cards or any posted responses from the management of the store stating exactly how they have responded to customer comments/complaints.

As an ethical consumer I'm also concerned about a number of other problems in the store. Conveniently the 'Number of carrier bags used last week' poster has been stuck on the same number (6850) for a matter of months along with the total. It may seem small but I sincerely believe information like this is important in order to encourage customers to stop uses oil based plastic carrier bags, especially as the Chancellor of the Exchequer recently threatened to introduce legislation if shops refuse to do anything about stopping their use.

On a similar note, in the coming years standard lightbulbs will also be phased out through legislation. I was please to see Tesco Branksome, stocking energy saving lightbulbs, but today I have noticed they've discontinued the sale of these lightbulbs altogether. Something which seems at odds with the corporate target of selling 10 million eco light bulbs by 23/04/2008*

I look forward to your response.

Yours sincerely

Gareth Jones

* Tesco targets 10 million eco light bulb sales in coming year

http://www.tescocorporate.com/page.aspx?pointerid=7023FF0EFB13447AB9531502A83AAF97

2008-01-04T21:34:00.000Z

[The old heavy door opens; a slight breeze picks up into a gust and the dust on the floor begins to stir like an excited crowd. The pounding sound gets louder and the dust jumps higher. Rushes in... What's that? bolting through the open door. Before it's realized what the flash was....Gareth announces himself...]

'I'M BACK and this time it'll be the hardest year yet...
Hello everyone. Good to see you again.'

...and smiles.

___________

Keep watching for information on ...

- The latest fundraiser for WaterAid - Arctic Survival Challenge
- Moving house and the challenges of becoming more self sufficient (chickens, vegetables...)

- Fundraising stories
- Climate change debate

and all my usual antics.

(and hopefully this time Google won't knacker up my account )

2007-03-13T12:21:00.000Z

The Great Global Warming Swindle - A response to inaccurate science

Recently Channel 4 broadcast The Great Global Waming Swindle. A controversial programme directed and produced by a right wing Marxist who believes global warming theory is being used to prevent Developing countries from developing.

The shows producer Mr Durkin has often been accused of taking liberties with the facts. In 1997 he made a series for Channel 4 called “Against Nature”, which compared environmentalists with Nazis, conspiring against the world’s poor.'

The programme raised a lot of questions which will for many confuse the global warming debate even further. No doubt the show will also be used as gospel for non-belivers who believe Global Warming is a conspiracy.

What the show does offer is some fringe science If anything else I hope that it actually stimulates sceptics to research or debate the presented evidence with people that actually have the facts.

Anyway in response to the arguments presented I have discovered a wealth of stronger scientific evidence to dispute the claims that the show made. I felt it important to share this with you:

Source: http://reasic.wordpress.com/2007/03/10/the-great-global-warming-swindle-questions-answered/

The Great Global Warming Swindle Questions Answered

March 10th, 2007

I had two good responses to my last post on the recent documentary that aired on Channel 4 in the UK. “Eric” and “Jon Confused” asked some very good questions, which supplied me with plenty of work in looking for the answers. I figured that this response would be fairly long, so I decided to just go ahead and start a new post. I’ve done my best here to provide as many links and quotes from various sources as I could, but if I happened to miss something, feel free to let me know. Above all, I want each answer to be clear and concise, so that there is no confusion.

1. Antarctic ice cores showing lag between warming and rise in CO2 concentrations:

Antarctic ice core samples show that the rise in carbon dioxide levels lags behind temperature rise by 800 years, therefore cannot be the cause of it.

[Answer - This is based on correct info, but presented in a misleading way:

Not quite as true as they said, but basically correct; however they misinterpret it. The way they said this you would have thought that T and CO2 are anti-correlated; but if you overlay the full 400/800 kyr of ice core record, you can’t even see the lag because its so small. The correct interpretation of this is well known: that there is a T-CO2 feedback…

The RealClimate scientists then go on to provide a link to one of their previous posts on the subject.]

2. Mid-century cooling:

From the 1940’s until the 1980’s, the Earth experienced a significant cooling period, despite the fact that industrial production and release of CO2 vastly accelerated during this time.

[Answer - It is also correct that there was a slight cooling from the 40’s to the 70’s while CO2 concentrations continued to rise, but this is not because the two are not correlated. The climate is very complex. There are many factors at play. During this period, sulphate aerosols became a dominant negative forcing, which means that they had a cooling effect. Since that time, we have successfully cut aerosol emissions because of concerns about the ozone and acid rain. Consequently, CO2 has become an even more dominant positive forcing:

They presented this as a major flaw in the theory, which is deeply deceptive, because as they and their interviewees must know, the 40-70 cooling type period is readily explained, in that the GCMs are quite happy to reproduce it, as largely caused by sulphate aerosols.

The RealClimate scientists again provided more links.]

3. Solar activity parallels temperature change:

Sun spot and solar radiation activity almost exactly parralel temperature change on the Earth. “Solar activity very precisely matches the plot of temperature change over the last 100 years. It correlates well with the anomalous post-war temperature dip, when global carbon dioxide levels were rising.”

[Answer - It does seem to, until after 1980. Let’s look at the graph that was shown in the documentary:

You’ll notice that the data for solar activity stops at 1980. There is a specific reason for this: the rest of the data does not follow the temperature data anymore. This is the point at which temperature breaks away from the solar activity, in a sharp upward trend:

First off, notice that the data plotted *isn’t* solar variation directly, but an index of solar cycle length. There was speculation that it might be related to solar variation, but this was never clear. Now notice that the solar graph stops in 1980. Why could that be? Look at D+L’s figure 1c: when the correct data is used, the upturn after 1980 disappears and the correlation with temperature disappears. Oops. Best not mentioned…

The actual corrected solar activity graph can be found in Figure 1-c in this paper by Damon and Laut. The solar activity, superimposed on the temperature data can be found in Figure 2. Once again, the documentary presented the data in a very misleading manner.]

4. Troposphere heating slower than surface:

If the Earth was laboring under an accelerated greenhouse effect caused by human produced CO2, the troposphere (the layer of the earth’s atmosphere roughly 10-15km above us) should heat up faster than the surface of the planet, but data collected from satellites and weather balloons doesn’t support this fundamental presumption.

[Answer - This argument comes from antiquated satellite and weather balloon data that has since been corrected. In 2003, Dr. John Christy, professor at the University of Alabama at Huntsville, published a paper that was the result of almost 25 years’ worth of collected satellite and weather balloon data, which seemed to suggest that not only was there almost no warming, there was possibly even cooling occurring in the tropical regions of the planet. This data also seemed to show a discrepancy between the warming at the surface and in the troposphere. Since that time, other scientists have published papers that served to correct Christy’s data to the point that it basically mirrored that of the predictions of models that most other climate scientists used. As RealClimate says, Christy even admitted as much:

Christy (naturally enough) features in this section, though he seems to have forgotten the US CCSP report, and the executive summary which he authored says, “Previously reported discrepancies between the amount of warming near the surface and higher in the atmosphere have been used to challenge the reliability of climate models and the reality of human induced global warming. Specifically, surface data showed substantial global-average warming, while early versions of satellite and radiosonde data showed little or no warming above the surface. This significant discrepancy no longer exists because errors in the satellite and radiosonde data have been identified and corrected. New data sets have also been developed that do not show such discrepancies.”

I do not know why Christy would appear on this documentary and make claims that contradict his own corrected research and his own written statements, but that doesn’t matter. What matters is what the data shows, and according to the data, this is yet another false claim.]

5. Man-made CO2 minimal in comparison to natural sources:

The human contribution to carbon dioxide in our atmosphere is minimal in comparison to other natural means, including volcanic emission and CO2 produced by animals, bacteria, decaying vegetation and the ocean. The human “carbon footprint” is vastly outweighed by all of these factors.

[Answer - This is a tricky one. It is very similar to the skeptical argument that water vapor by far the most abundant greenhouse gas, so human activity could not possibly be causing global warming. However, both of the arguments fail to differentiate between static concentrations of GHGs and changes in GHG concentrations. It is the change that we are worried about. There is a natural, static amount of certain GHGs in the atmosphere, which help to keep the Earth warm. However, if human activity results in the manufacture of additional GHGs, this has an added warming effect, which can heat the Earth too much. In recent years, the concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere has sky-rocketed, and there is little if any debate on the cause of this significant increase:

Over the last 150 years, carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations have risen from 280 to nearly 380 parts per million (ppm). The fact that this is due virtually entirely to human activities is so well established that one rarely sees it questioned.

This recent increase in CO2 concentrations, as a result of human activity is what is responsible for the increase in temperature that we are currently seeing.]

6. Lag between warming and increase in CO2 concentrations prior to 1980’s:

…why is the lag period between temperature rise and CO2 rise prior to the early 1980s not compelling evidence of a causal link that increasing global temperature causes rising CO2?

[Answer - There was indeed a time lag, but there were two factors at play in the middle of the last century that caused the anomalous cooling trend. First, it takes some time for new amounts of CO2 to rise into the atmosphere. Second, there was an increase in sulphate aerosols during that time period, which are negative forcings (they provide a cooling effect):

They then proceed to give an overly simplistic view of the climate, stating that during the heaviest industrialisation post-WWI, there was global cooling - therefore CO2 had no effect. They fatally neglect the time lag for warming from CO2, or the cooling impact from aerosols like SO2.

So, the new CO2 that resulted from heavy post-WWII industrialization had not yet taken effect, while at the same time, an increase in sulphate aerosols was causing more of a cooling effect. As I explained in an earlier answer, we’ve since curbed aerosol emissions because of concerns about acid rain and the ozone layer.]

7. Dominance of solar activity:

…why is it not possible that since the 1980s the effect of industrial CO2 rises have added (proportionately or otherwise) to a predominantly solar driven event?

[Answer - First, if you look at the links I provided in response to question 3, you’ll see that, due to mathematical errors, it is now clear that there is no correlation between solar activity and temperature increase after 1980. Second, as the “Radiative Forcing Components” chart on page four of the latest IPCC report’s summary shows, solar activity accounts for a very small portion of the warming effect on out planet, when compared to the many other factors that are involved, especially greenhouse gases.]

8. Explanation for localized Little Ice Age:

having visited several sites today i have seen doubts cast over the validity of sun spot data and the apparent correlation between reduced solar activity (as crudely measured by sun spot counts) and the so called Maunder Minimum. If this event was ‘localised’ as is being suggested, why did it last so long and effect most of Europe for decades?

[Answer - As I understand it, much of this observed cooling is attributed to oceanic changes:

Shindell et al (2001) alluded, however, to the possibility that a sustained negative phase of the NAO would lead to a minor weakening of the North Atlantic meridional overturning circulation,

The GISS model results and empirical reconstructions both suggest that solar-forced regional climate changes during the Maunder Minimum appeared predominantly as a shift toward the low AO/NAO index. Although global average temperature changes were small, modeled regional cooling over the continents during winter was up to five times greater. Changes in ocean circulation were not considered in this model. However, given the sensitivity of the North Atlantic to AO/NAO forcing (37–Delworth and Dixon, J. Climate, 2000), oceanic changes may well have been triggered as a response to the atmospheric changes (38–Broecker, PNAS, 2000). Such oceanic changes would themselves further modify the pattern of SST in the North Atlantic (39–Visbeck et al, 1999) and, to a lesser extent, the downstream air temperature anomalies in Europe.

Jones and Mann later expanded on this point in a review paper published in 2004 in the journal Reviews of Geophysics (see final paragraph of section 5.3 therein). The argument basically goes as follows: a sustained forced negative state of the NAO pattern would lead, based on the experiments done by Delworth and Dixon (2000), to a small, but detectable [1-2 Sverdrups (’Sv’) - or about 5-10%) decrease in the North Atlantic meridional overturning circulation (MOC), which in turn would lead to an additional pattern of cooling over the North Atlantic during the height of the LIA. This seems consistent with the small change in the strength of the “Gulf Stream” inferred by Lund et al study for the LIA.

This view that the LIA was localized is widely accepted among climate scientists.]

9. Cosmic ray theory of cloud formation:

I am also reading that the cosmic ray theory of cloud formation is highly faulted. Yet the indirect data relating to cloud cover and solar activity again at first sight seems compelling. What is wrong with this data?

[Answer - One of the commonly cited works on this subject is not even peer-reviewed literature:

The argument from Nigel Calder and Danish space science skeptics has featured on this blog before, and on BBC’s Newsnight - where Calder was thoroughly demolished by an atmospheric physicist from Imperial College. Basically, the Danes have found that cosmic rays produced ionized particles, an published it in a peer reviewed paper here. The article made no mention of global warming or climate change, but Calder and the Danes wrote a book anyway, making numerous jumps of assumption to say that those ionized particles would produce more clouds and thus cool the Earth. However, those assumptions have not been peer-reviewed, and there exists no long-term trend for cosmic ray flux, while global mean temperature keeps rising.

The scientists at RealClimate have provided an impressive critique of this theory:

The working hypothesis of the cosmic ray crowd is that the (weak) correlations between low clouds and cosmic rays are causal (i.e. a cosmic ray increase - due to a solar magnetic field weakening - causes low clouds to increase, cooling the planet). The ’spin’ on this new paper is that this has been demonstrated, and is significant, and furthermore, is responsible for the 20th Century rise in global temperatures. But let’s look carefully at what is required in this logic:

First, the particles observed in these experiments are orders of magnitude too small to be Cloud Condensation Nuclei (CCN). In the press release, this is why they talk about the ‘building blocks’ of CCN, however, aggrandisation of these small particles is in no sense guaranteed (Missing step #1). Secondly, the focus is on low clouds over the ocean. However, over the ocean, there are huge numbers of condensation nuclei related to sea salt particles. Thus to show that the cosmic ray mechanism is important, you need to show that it increases CCN even in the presence of lots of other CCN (Missing step #2). Next, even if more CCN were made, you would need to show that this actually changed cloud cover (or optical thickness etc.) (Missing step #3). And given that change in cloud properties, you would need to show that it had a significant effect on radiative forcing - which despite their hand waving, is not at all well quantified (even the sign!) (Missing step #4). Finally, to show that cosmic rays were actually responsible for some part of the recent warming you would need to show that there was actually a decreasing trend in cosmic rays over recent decades - which is tricky, because there hasn’t been (see the figure) (Missing step #5). All of this will require significant work and there are certainly no guarantees that all the steps can be verified (which they have been for the greenhouse gas hypothesis) - especially the last! However, they would seem essential to justifying the claims in the press releases.

It seems that so far, the version of this theory that is heralded by climate skeptics such as the Mr. Durkin consists of weak correlations and lots of spin, rather than sound science.]

10. Assumption that curbing CO2 production necessitates limiting progress:

I am concerned about the political ramifications of dictatorial measures to curb CO2 production in the future where it involves pressurising developing countries to limit their technological progress and industrialisation. My concerns are that (what ever the cause) should the worst predictions of climate change prove correct, how are the people in these countries going to adapt quickly to cope with the impacting changes if they are not allowed to develop?

[Answer - Stifling industrialization and development is not the only way to curb CO2 emissions. We can invest in and transition to cleaner sources of energy:

By associating CO2 emissions with industrialisation and economic growth, the documentary plays an emotional trick by making us think that the quality of life we have will be taken away from us if the environmentalists had their way. While CO2 emissions are indeed associated with industrialisation, it is not a relationship that cannot be undone. For example, Vestas in Denmark have generated immense wealth by producing wind power generators. China has recently decoupled economic growth from greenhouse gas emissions growth (link).

This is another common straw man argument that is used by skeptics.]

11. Potential political advantages of having global warming as “enemy”:

I am aware that there are political advantages of having an enemy (Global climate change in this case) that can, with great effort be overcome. The great efforts (additional taxes, continued cheap labour forces in developing countries and a slowing of the use of a finite resource; oil, coal, gas)are potential politically stabilising goals. Additionally a ‘defeatable’ enemy allows governments to focus the attentions of the masses if somewhat fearfully, in a controlled fashion.

[Answer - Assuming motives doesn’t prove anything about the validity of the findings of the scientific community on climate change. There is also the potential motive of those in the energy industry, who stand to gain from not being forced to take action. While this may make me skeptical of the arguments funded by them, it does not, by itself, convince me that they are wrong. What is most important is that we not get caught up in conspiracy theories, and instead focus on the science behind prevailing theories on climate change.]

12. IPCC censored dissenting scientists:

The UN’s much vaunted IPCC report was heralded as closing the case on the argument of man-made global warming. But as the show explains, they deliberately censored any dissenting scientists while still listing them as participants, leading many to threaten legal action against the IPCC to have their names removed from the report. Scientists who were invited to participate in the IPCC report expose the fundamental flaws contained throughout the document.

[Answer - This is one that I simply do not have an answer for right now. I live in the United States, so I was not able to see the documentary. I would need more information about who was making these claims, what they specifically disagreed with, and what the response from the IPCC leaders is. I will look into it.]

I hope these responses help to provide some insights on the assertions that were made in the “Great Global Warming Swindle” documentary. Please let me know if there are any further questions or concerns.

Posted in climate change, global warming, skeptics, global warming myths, debate, White House, science, environment, politics, government, news |'

2007-02-01T13:49:00.000Z

The JONES COCSE Global Feedback Model (v1)

DO UNTIL

Wide scale global flooding, crop decimation, death, and catastrophic change which reduces global population to a sustainable size

Catalytic Occurrence of Climatic Stabilising Event (COCSE*)

IF Glaciers and ice caps melt THEN

Increase Sea Level

IF Greenhouse gas mix increases THEN

Increase planet temperature

IF Sea warm THEN

Increate climatic variation and anomalies, El Niño

END IF

Have the planets’ chemical, biological, hydrological mechanisms stabilised to level tolerant by humanity?

Has COCSE occurred?

END WHILE

Notes:

* Occurrence of an unknown global mechanism to stabilise current levels of gases. Geological records seem to suggest these isn’t a geologic event to do this.

2007-01-22T20:35:00.000Z

Human Waster (Waste, Climate Change, IPCC Report)

Where there is muck... there's usually a supermarket (but the muck can't really be seen) If you saw the Independant today then you'll have seen their campaign against the amount of packaging these businesses sell you. (CAMPAIGN AIMS TO REDUCE THE MOUNTAINS OF WASTE, http://news.independent.co.uk/environment/article2175016.ece)

Since before Christmas I've had a couple of plastic cling film trays ready to send back to Tesco. I'd intended to send them back without a stamp so they they could also pick up the cost of it as well. That was my own little way of feeling like I'd done my bit. I thought 'Why the hell did I need this stuff? I've got enough crap at home as it is'.

Those people are the real criminals, for selling it to us in the first place. A bit like a cocaine dealer selling you another hit, they know its bad for you, and everyone around, but they do it anyway.

Still there's one, for thing for sure we don't have to take it any more. We could have done it years ago, but we never had the confidence to. Suddenly the Green Revolution has begun and we're all able make a stand.... it just makes so much sense.

Just give the waste back.

Yes it really is that simple. Use it as a way to remind yourself to take back your carrier bag. (One of the problems of using a bag, if ind, is remembering it!)

A new front in this Green War is about to be fought..... Waste.

Some time ago a local WI decided they would save all the waste they have and take it back to the super market. It's a great idea! But I never heard about it, so all I can say is it wasn't big enough.

Failing that of course I guess local events would be a good idea. Get together a large bunch of people through the internet, the newspaper or whatever. Get them together and go shopping. Get everyone to buy one item, unwrap it, and leave the litter at the shop. Lets face it, businesses pretty much have to recycle now and your local council might not actually be that great at it anyway. :)

This week we'll see old Georgie Jnr. (President George Bush) taking a bit of a shift in Climate Change, so keep your eyes peeled. George is probably worried that scientific panel that was set up years ago to investigate climate change is now about to realease their most stark warning yet. It's on its way.... Things are too late it's gonna be crazy round here as we lead up to 2025 oh and incase your wondering about that 3C average rise lets just remember that a 1C average rise will be catastrophic. Live green and see the next few decades through , it really will be the only option if you want to see your society survive.

So make sure the ball keeps rolling, make sure you keep shouting, because there is only one choice left to make, and waste is as good of place to start as any other.

2007-01-09T21:36:00.000Z

The new year ....

It is with some caution that I welcome the New Year. On one hand I am filled with optimism. There are many initiatives around which improve all of our lives and on a daily basis we see humanity developing new technology and pushing forward new political agendas that embrace the ‘tree hugging hippy’ spirit.

But on a darker note all this optimism is tainted with a sinister shade. Only today I read in The Guardian how Exxon Mobile refuse to renounce its opposition to scientifically supported climate change theory. But you’ll be pleased to know that it has decided to ‘soften’ its image in order to please its shareholders. Basically folks that means more of the same stuff but behind a better smoke screen. Hmmmm… you know what? We all sit around telling people not to invest in un-ethical companies like Exxon but the real truth is we should invest in them. Companies belong to the shareholders and if the shareholders want another direction then it is beyond even the company to refuse he shareholders their wishes. We all sit around criticising those that invest in un-ethical companies like BAE, Exxon and Nestle but if you think about it the sooner it becomes obvious that together we could affect real change by owning these companies.

I was astonished at Tony Blair’s statement that he wouldn’t stop going on long haul flights, but after a few minutes I realised that he actually made some sense. We can’t expect to give up the things we have grown used to. People must be able to have fun. Going ‘green’ shouldn’t mean a stop to this. No sir-ree, the ‘alcopop generation’ may have come of age but that doesn’t mean we’ve all turned into fascist dictators overnight. If NGOs like Friends of the Earth and Greenpeace want to win the popular vote they must realise this. It is possible to retain similar lifestyles by making considerate decisions. Trust me I’m managing it (just).

Just as I was about to email Tony Blair asking him to consider Carbon Offsets I heard that he had already agreed to do so on the Channel 4 News. Maybe 2007 won’t be so bad after all.

Happy New Year to you all.

2006-12-19T16:41:00.000Z

‘All this seems strange and untrue… Tell me that you’ll open your eyes.’

-Snow Patrol, Open your Eyes

I seem to be living that statement at the moment, continually asking others to sit up and pay attention to what is going on with the world.

The other evening I caught a programme on television called ‘Extinct’. It was a phone in show whereby viewers got to select one of 8 animals they wanted to save from extinction. Has it come to this already?

Many people won’t recognise that things are really messed up until it’s too late. Such is the nature of society. It is a facet that makes us no different from all of the other great civilisations that have risen and fell. But that doesn’t mean it is futile trying to warn people of the impending environmental chaos about to be unleashed due to anthropogenic . But I have committed myself to a difficult task. After all if science can’t persuade people what can? The answer is obviously a multitude of elements which depend on the very nature of culture and society. Money can be used to great effect in western cultures along with the enforcement of legislation. But it is not so easy to do in cultures that have not built up the same dependence on law and financial gain.

I’ve just come back from Nepal and I can’t imagine that the environment is at the forefront of the minds of several children I saw sifting through the river for gold teeth from human remains. That said I can’t imagine their lifestyles are responsible for climate change in the same way’s yours and mine are either.

Whilst I was away on my trek I got into a discussion with the expedition Doctor about how the UK doesn’t really create much pollution when compared to countries like the USA. Just because we do not emit much pollution as a country does that allow us the convenience for us to do nothing? NO, it bloody doesn’t.

The West should be looking to become a role model on environmental issues. Our models of globalisation and capitalisation have been adopted throughout the world and are now the ambition of many third world countries. Besides that we are part of a larger community now. As much as the UK likes to deny it we are Europeans and we too can shape the future of this continent for the betterment of the entire planet. Actually I’m pleased to say we are making progress in this area. You didn’t know that did I hear you say? … Open your eyes.

2006-11-09T20:48:00.000Z

Well it's nearly here... Nearly time to go to Nepal.

If you want to follow my progress check out this site:

http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/EverestBaseCamp/

Otherwise I'll be back in December. No doubt as angry as ever :)

Take care

G

2006-09-18T20:25:00.000Z

Here is an abstract from a recent Scientific Journal...

Abstract:

A recent assessment by the intergovernmental panel on climate change concluded that the Earth's climate would be 2-6 degrees C warmer than in the pre-industrial era by the end of the twenty-first century, due to human-induced increases in greenhouse gases. In the absence of other changes, this would lead to the warmest period on Earth for at least the last 1000 years, and probably the last 100 000 years. The large-scale warming is expected to be accompanied by increased frequency and/or intensity of extreme events, such as heatwaves, heavy rainfall, storms and coastal flooding. There are also several possibilities that this large change could initiate nonlinear climate responses which lead to even more extreme and rapid (on the time-scale of decades) climate change, including the collapse of the ocean 'conveyor belt' circulation, the collapse of major ice sheets or the release of large amounts of methane in high latitudes leading to further global warming. Although these catastrophic events are much more speculative than the direct warming due to increased greenhouse gases, their potential impacts are great and therefore should be included in any risk assessment of the impacts of anthropogenic climate change.

Source:

PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY A-MATHEMATICAL PHYSICAL AND ENGINEERING SCIENCES 364 (1845): 2117-2133 AUG 15 2006

2006-09-01T11:46:00.000Z

Another day.... another warning on climate.

This time it's a top US Scientist.

Sea levels could rise by up to 4 metres in the coming century.

'One of America's top scientists has said that the world has already entered a state of dangerous climate change.

In his first broadcast interview as president of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, John Holdren told the BBC that the climate was changing much faster than predicted.'

Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/5303574.stm

If you are not alarmed then you should be. Actually I couldn't give a monkey's if the ignorant and arrogant amongst us died anyway. Studying ecology taught me that population numbers are not sustainable with finite resources and I welcome the day when only the people who care are left.

When that day comes maybe it'll be time to go back to my motherland of Wales :)

We have everything we need to help prevent this happenning to us. We can all turn green overnight if we really tried. Actually it's so damn easy that only laziness prevents it.

Start by changing your electricity supplier to Ecotricity fully sustainable electricity at no extra cost.

2006-08-08T22:15:00.000Z

"It is a mad wisdom and it should not be dismissed because it's mad, just as Hitler - he started off as an attack on the Jews and this is the same thing," he said.

"Tony Blair understands this. Some of the chattering classes do not. They learnt nothing from history. They really think it is a problem with Israel."

- Binyamin Netanyahu, Former Israeli prime minister

2006-08-08T11:47:00.000Z

New Article on GenerationWhy...

Fundraising: not as scary as you might think

2006-08-04T19:20:00.000Z

Israel

There are people in this government in the UK as there are in other Security Council members that are quite happy for Israel's slaughter of innocent civilians to continue.

Some may say this is because the UK is one of the world's largest arms suppliers and that it is good for the economy. I'll let you to make up your own mind about that, but you can probably guess where I stand.

Hezbollah have used brainwashing techniques on their people. Just in the same way McDonalds exploits our appetite for food. Obviously I'm not directly comparing the two, that would be silly. But what I'm trying to say is we all get brainwashed everyday. Hezbollah like Hitler is using unscrupulous techniques to convince the people to wage war as are Israel.

I'm neither a Christian, Jew nor Muslim. I have no allegiances to any side.

No religious leader, no mainstream philosophy of any of these religions encourages violence.
Please read that again. No religious leader, no mainstream philosophy of any of these religions encourages violence. Hell, even Satanism doesn't encourage violence. (Excuse the pun) and no I'm not a Satanist either! There is no excuse for this slaughter in the same way there is no excuse for the slaughter of millions of victims of poverty everyday.

Tony Blair despite his failings is doing the right thing by going through the UN. Let's face it remember last time when he didn't? Yeah we never liked that either. By why on earth doesn't he just tell people a ceasefire is necessary and put pressure on Israel to stop or for that matter why doesn't Europe? Come on we keep getting told we're one 'big family', let act like it.

I know Israel and its people have had a shitty deal but that's no excuse for the slaughter of children.

Do something today, get up and bloody do something, think of the crap these people are going through. Email your MP today:

http://www.oxfam.org.uk/what_we_do/emergencies/country/middleeast/action.htm

Please....

2006-08-03T10:59:00.000Z

2006-07-30T13:21:00.000Z

Well its been a busy old time...

The last few weeks have been crazy. I have been frantically preparing for a Video Horse Racing Night which I held on the 22nd July @ The Grasshopper in Poole. Thank you to everyone who made it a success. Together we raised over £475, which is enough to break my target for the Everest Base Camp Trek. We've now raised enough to change the lives of 200 people. In the coming 17 weeks leading up to the Trek I will be concentrating on my training schedule and as we get closer to the date I'll be training 8 hours a day over the weekends while also maintaining 3 gym sessions a weeks and some brisk walks at lunchtime. Damn I'll be hungry! :)

The Politicians can only facilitate - We must all make the change

Politics can only implement the necessary economic instruments to facilitate environmental improvements. In the end it is up us to implement to the changes required if this civilisation is to carry on. Civilisations rise and fall that is certain. Change must be made by individuals, only then will it work.

'Only when the last tree has died, and the last river been poisoned, and the last fish caught, will we realise that we cannot eat money'

In a continued quest to minimise my carbon footprint and literally 'Change the world now' I've bought a new eco-car - well the best I could get with my money. After debating with my housemate Matt, I finally came round to the idea that diesel does actually have lower Carbon Dioxide emissions than LPG. My second-hand Vauxhall Corsa (53 plate) does 64MPG, cost 50 quid a year to tax, runs on Diesel and has a 1.3 engine.

After a ongoing ordeal with my previous car insurer (HSBC) I’ve also decided to change my insurance cover to to CO-OPs ‘eco-insurance’. Which costs me no extra than my existing insurer – a bonus!

Ecoinsurance is the UK's first car insurance policy to help offset some of my car's CO_2.and the CO-OP is the UK's only insurance provider with a customer-led Ethical Engagement Policy.

My third latest development has been a change in electricity supplier. Thanks to the ‘green’ mailing list I’m on at work, I found out about a new supplier which only generates 100% sustainable electricity (mainly from wind farms).

Forget the politics about nuclear power folks! If you really want alternatives then invest in them by changing supplier. Now there is no extra cost there really is no excuse. Log on to www.ecotricity.co.uk and change today. In fact if you can’t figure it out I’ll even help you, just drop me a email.

Our new electricity supplier – Ecotricity - costs no-extra!

YES – 100% sustainable electricity at NO EXTRA COST! The is no-excuse.

2006-07-03T19:43:00.000Z

Professor Lock, Environmental scientist tells us to "Wake up" "the Earth is truely in danger"

"In January 2004, Sandy [his wife] and I were invited to the Hadley Centre in Exeter [part of the UK Met Office], and that visit made us both aware of the deadly seriousness of the Earth's condition," Professor Lovelock told the BBC News website.

"We discussed the rapid melting of ice floating on the Arctic Ocean, and the way that Greenland's glaciers are vanishing. We talked about global heating in the tropics and the threat to the forests there, and about the response of the great boreal forests of Siberia and Canada to climate change.

"It was a deeply gloomy picture; but for me the gloomiest of all things was the detached, almost academic, air with which the grim predictions were presented - almost as if we were discussing some other planet, not the Earth."

Professor Lovelock intends The Revenge of Gaia to be a "wake-up call" tospread awareness that "the Earth is truly in danger".

Source: Global Warming: Crisis for Earth?

2006-06-30T12:01:00.000Z

Turns out that the USA were torturers and liars all along...

Everyone likes to be right sometimes but when you were right about a concentration camp set up a country which advocates itself as the 'land of the free' and the 'leader of the free world' one can't help but wonder where the American Dream started to turn into a nightmare.

The government of the United States has done more to fuel terrorism than all of us. Their hypocritical preaching of democracy and religion can be destroyed by the poor examples they have given us:

Need I go on??? (Just read this Iraqi girls blog to get a real insight into what is going on in
Baghdad)

This week the US Supreme court ruled that tribunals at Guantánamo were actually illegal and in violation of the Geneva Convention. (Guardian, June 06) I look forward to a War Crimes tribunal but seriously doubt we'll get one even though this would be the right and just thing to do.

Bandar Bush has said he would like to close the US prison camp at Guantanamo Bay and send many detainees back to their home countries.

However, he said not all the inmates would be returned - some would need to be put on trial in the US because they were "cold-blooded killers". (BBC)

To be honest with you if I was subjected to the same treatment as the prisoners of Guantanamo I also think I would turn into a cold blooded killer simply through rage alone.

All in all it really does make you wonder who the real criminals are! It leaves little to the imagination as to how easy it must be for terrorist organisations to recruit and channel people's anger at the US into violent action. The USA is its own worse enemy it just unfortunate that not all its people realise that.

Take a look at this trailer; it's about three British people that were incarcerated there for no reason. Yes three British people... People of my country....

http://www.roadtoguantanamomovie.com/video/official_small.html

2006-06-22T11:29:00.000Z

Death of the Nuclear Family

Yes we all know that the nuclear family is a rarity nowadays but what about the family relying on nuclear power. Sadly this beast is still alive a kicking strong.

When I was a student I remember participating in a debate in which I argued for Nuclear Power stations to be built in order to tackle climate change.

Actually I never considered the larger picture and I've now changed my stance. After months of thinking about it logic has prevailed.

Nuclear Power prances around selling its self as a clean energy source, but clean it is not.

Just look at the facts below:

Nuclear power is still unsafe and cannot help the UK meet its pollution targets. Here's the low-down on an energy a former Environment Minister says we need 'like a hole in the head'.

Expensive

Costs more than wind - In 2002 the Cabinet Office estimated that nuclear could cost over 40% more per kWh than on/off-shore wind.
Waste of money - Construction costs are large and unpredictable with delays causing greater losses. Windfarm costs are known, smaller and falling.
Hits taxpayers - Disposal of existing waste will cost around £56 billion. More reactors mean more waste, with no guarantee that costs won't be passed on to the public.

Dangerous waste

Highly radioactive - Nuclear waste can remain dangerous for tens of thousands of years.
Deadly inheritance - No one has yet demonstrated a safe way of disposing of it.
Accidents do happen - Leaks and near misses cannot be ruled out.

Environmentally unfriendly

Way off target - Doubling nuclear power would reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at most eight per cent.
Not emission free - Mining and transporting uranium, building nuclear plants and storage of nuclear waste all produce carbon dioxide emissions.
Only electricity - It will not replace petrol and diesel - currently responsible for around 22 per cent of UK carbon emissions.

Security threat

Weapons - Uranium enrichment plants can be misused to make nuclear weapons.
Vulnerable - No nuclear reactor could withstand a direct hit from a jumbo jet.
Nowhere to hide - A successful attack could have an impact 40 times worse than the explosion at Chernobyl.

Real alternatives

No need for nuclear - The UK's vast renewable resources combined with simple energy-saving tactics provide a safer, cleaner and more sensible solution.
Secure supply - Renewable sources could generate more than half our current electricity needs by 2025.
Quick technology - All the major renewable technologies can be implemented within three years. We'd be waiting at least ten for nuclear.
Bright idea - A programme to phase out inefficient light bulbs could save a whole reactor's worth of electricity by 2020.
Forward thinking - We could save fifteen reactor's worth by investing in the potential of using waste heat to generate electricity.

Source: http://www.foe.org.uk/resource/faqs/questions/nuclear_energy.html

The real problem is our continued plundering of carbon resources to fuel our energy inefficient lifestyles. If all the carbon locked up in the Earth was released the Earth would be inhospitable. Actually we might as well just move to Venus which is a clear example of a planet undergoing an uber-greenhouse effect.

Now carbon isn't the only problem. Actually methane is even worse than Carbon Dioxide as it heats the earth more and stays in the atmosphere longer (Guardian, 2005). Let’s discuss that one another day.

We must think about the future! Nuclear energy is not sustainable. Think small act big.

We need to engender a society based on self-sufficiency. It can be done now. Solar panels, wind turbines... it's not just green clap-trap. It's a way of saving a fortune, living cleanly and giving future generations... well a future.

So what am I doing? Well not a great deal. I moved to a carbon neutral energy tariff but after reading the July 06 New Internationalist, I'm now of the belief that carbon offsets are a farce. I'll be looking at getting my energy from 100% sustainable providers as soon as that next pay-rise comes through in a couple of months. As for my car, well it’s still a petrol whore. I feel guilty at my hypocrisy but I am making changes. I'm currently on the look out for a cheap used LPG car. LPG isn't great either but it’s the lesser of most evils and once again it will save me a fortune in petrol.

Going green usually means saving money in the long-run - which is great for tightwads like me :)

Now if anyone knows the environmental cost of creating LPG please let me know!

2006-06-21T11:27:00.000Z

3 weeks where was he!

3 weeks since I last posted here. Apologies for that. The last 3 weeks have been crazy! I've been sorting out further sponsorship for my trek, creating a website (www.ChangeTheWorldNow.co.uk) and making preparation for a Video Horse Racing Night which I'm running as my largest fundraiser for WaterAid this year. On top of that I've also been taking a bit of R&R. The Isle of Wight festival this year was amazing! It was also great to see the presence of Oxfam there and Coldplay flying the colours for Make Trade Fair (www.maketradefair.com).

My quest to live ethically continues, as well as switching to environmentally friendly household cleaning products from EcoVer (www.ecover.com) I have started to get most of my food delivered to me by Abel and Cole (Thanks to Claudia for the recommendation) . Abel and Cole (www.abel-cole.co.uk) supply organic, fair trade foods straight to your door. Receiving deliveries at work is great! I get to save the environment, support British farmers and fairtrade co-ops and it saves me going out shopping as much. I've had to change my eating habits slightly by differing the things I eat but overall I'm really enjoying it. (plus I'm saving time shopping and don't have to fight the crowds at the shops either!) I recommend them to anyone!

The increasing energy prices have made us re-think energy use at home. We've now coverted all our bulbs to energy saving ones. Hopefully that will save the environment as well as a few pounds. Think small act big! It may only be a few lightbulbs but if we all did it, we could all make such a difference. I found some halogen replacement bulbs (search eBay for megaman GU10 bulbs) so instead of running a light at 120w (3x 40w) it now runs at 27w. I also treated myself to a new LCD computer monitor. Proving that saving energy doesn't alway mean we need to make concessions.

Needless to say we're just one household. I haven't got kids but i'm alreaDy thinking about the world future generations will inherit.

As for those selfish bastards in 4x4 cars who reason that their climate-killing-mobiles are to 'protect their children' maybe they need to think again! Get an LPG conversion folks and advertise it. If you really care about your kids then think of what the world will be like in the future when the climate really changes. Trust me it won't all be about warm summers!

Increased insect populations
Disease
Water shortages
Coastal flooding
Damage to homes
Reduced food due to flooded farmland

THINK!

Secretly I can't help that it is too late and the only way for people to listen will be when it is too late. Much like we see people only wanting to save Africa when we see pictures of death our own salvation will only become important to the ignorant or selfish when they too start to die. Whether that be physical death or the death of their lifestyle remains to be seen .... But big changes are coming so get ready!

2006-05-31T21:39:00.000Z

The worker's unite

Turns out that one of my ancestors was George Lovelace (or is that less?)

Sat here watching BBC News pondering what was 'really happening' with the AUT and NATHFE at the moment. Why they were so hell bent on getting these pay rises at the expense of the students in Higher Education. Personally I support the academics and the students, neither one can exist without the other. Then it occured to me... Actually it's more about the unions gaining control. Unions are formed of the people and the people are using their power to get a grip on 'labour' government?

As I write this, I'm hearing that John Prescott has just made a decision to give up his countryside residence (or government 'perk') strange how a 'strict union' supporter no longer seems have his wits about him. A countryside residence? Come on John, time to retire!.

2006-05-19T21:19:00.000Z

From one ally to another...

(Happy birthday to my nephew Macauley.)

Don't you just love warm dark windy nights. Tonight is one of those.

I'm 27, when I was 7 I lived thinking America was great. I rode up and down the street wanting to be in 'Chips' and listening to the beach boys. The summers were always long...

Sadly the America of today angers me. But I don't blame the people... Not entirely.

Somewhere betwteen 40%-60% of the American people are good. In that statistic I mean the USA and from here forth shall but the problem the USA now faces is the remainder.

One upon a time in Europe the 'strange folk' of our continent set sail for a land where the people wouldn't be annoyed by them anymore. We purged that land of Indians in one of the worlds most sordid and sad ethnic cleaning campaigns the world has ever seen. The destruction of the the people whose country it once was.

I'm sure there are some people that would say Europe has a duty to put the world right again.

Where the hell was I.... ah yes...

Basically... USA listen up. . .

Its time for democracy. Take your country back. Use nothing but peace and the tools of democracy. The rest of the world is now starting to practice what you've preached and it's time to start practicing what you've always been preaching.

If you really want America to be remembered as a compassionate 'Land of the free' then its time to do something about it. The world hates you.... All because of one man. George W. Bush.

South America well done... Well done for acheiving the real democracy. The people there control the part of the country the people need. Not want the companies need and what the companies can feed the corrupt government of the USA.

We live in interesting times friends. Welcome to one and all!

In the words of Midnight Caller 'Goodnight America where ever you are!'

2006-05-08T19:04:00.000Z

Inspired

I was just reading through one of the Amsterdam diaries and came across this little gem from my good friend Phil.

'The conflict is rumoured to begin in the antipodes. This is the battlefield of the future. Each committed to resolving their dispute by their sporting approach, which some have accredited to the relaxed lifestyles enjoyed by one and all that partook in the sociable past-time that is smoking pot.

There were casualities but these seldom required more than 1 hour in a comfortable position to rememdy. Delegates retired when necessary. There were no atrocities no financial economic crises, famine or displacement.

Merely peace was accomplished by the unanimous decision to colonise the heavens.' - Phil Elsden

2006-05-02T19:52:00.000Z

Just to let you know that i've had my next article published on the Generation Why website.

http://www.oxfam.org.uk/generationwhy/yoursay/articles/yoursay75.htm,

Remember Oxfam are alwasy looking for new writers :)

Take care

Gareth

2006-04-25T20:14:00.000Z

OXFAM Live! - Southampton

Today I went to a OXFAM conference in Southampton. It really is inspiring to see so many people coming together for the same cause and a great opportunity to meet people involved with and interested in OXFAM.

There were three presentations: Rekha Shenoy (below) inspired the crowd talking about about her work as a Project Manager in Gujarat, India, Graham MacKay talked about how OXFAM responds to emergencies and finally Katherine Heasman and Adam Askew brought everyone together to talk about local campaigning.

OXFAM do some fantastic work all around the world. To get involved please sign up to their 'I'm in!' campaign today.

Yes I'm In! I want to help

2006-04-24T16:53:00.000Z

Famine in Africa ... yadda yadda... WAKE UP!!! 11 million people are dying!!!!!

If you are anything like me you'll have been watching the news lately and every now and again you'll have heard about yet another Africa Crisis. You may have ignored it. After all it's easy to get numb to these stories.

It's time to wake up.... Abre Los Ojos! Open your eyes.

The nightmare will soon begin.

Prevention is better than cure

11 Million People are about to start dying because the don't have any f**king food!

Yes 11 million! that's more than the population of London.

They need our help because they have no one else to help them. Yes maybe their government could do more. So what! Now is not the time for judgement or blame. There will be time for that later.

Is Africa doomed to drought? Hell no. It's all linked, think about it! If the climate starts to change because of man's influences then people will suffer and it won't just be Africa.

They need us.

I've just made a small donation... I can't really afford it as I have enough debts but I chucked another £10 on my credit card. After all what is £10 more in debt to me when we are talking about someones life!

This is OXFAM's largest fundraiser, that just says how important this is.

https://www.oxfam.org.uk/what_you_can_do/give_to_oxfam/donate/eastafrica_email1.htm?ito=2379&itc=0

2006-04-18T09:33:00.000Z

My Birthday Rant!!

Back-door support by Un-Ethical Companies for Overseas Student Numbers

I've just sent this letter to my MP. A nice way to spend a University closure days and my Birthday :)

Have a great day everyone!

Gareth
__________________________________________

I have just read the following article on the BBC news website:
____________________________________________

OVERSEAS STUDENT PLANS UNVEILED

"Plans to attract a further 100,000 overseas students to the UK over the next five years are due to be unveiled by Prime Minister Tony Blair"

"Firms BP, BAE Systems, GlaxoSmithKline and Shell are to be "corporate champions" for the project, the prime minister will say."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/4917642.stm

____________________________________________

Working in the University sector I am only too aware of how important it is to attract overseas student numbers, however allowing un-ethical companies like some of those stated in this article, will ultimately lead to further resource plundering, pollution and poverty wars.

I attended a Student Union meeting a few weeks ago in which the Deputy Vice Chancellor and the Director of Finance at Southampton University presented the Institutions involvement with arms manufacturers. I am cautiously optimistic that the University will be reviewing it's involvement with these companies. I for one will be campaigning that they favour a more sustainable approach to their research as I genuinely our country should strive to become a world leader in ethical, sustainable 'green' research.

The proposed unethical "corporate champions" will only exasperate the dire condition of our planet.

Can I ask that you put in for an adjournment debate on this subject? I feel strongly that the government should be taken to task over this.

Best wishes

Gareth

2006-04-14T14:22:00.000Z

New Articles on GenerationWhy!

It may interest some of you to know that I've had a few more articles published on OXFAM's Generation Why website:

Meet the MP
http://www.oxfam.org.uk/generationwhy/yoursay/articles/yoursay65.htm

My response to a piece on Feminism (see the bottom)
http://www.oxfam.org.uk/generationwhy/yoursay/articles/yoursay63.htm

2006-04-14T14:06:00.000Z

Arghh!! Has my Charity Trek been cancelled??

It's not confirmed yet but I've heard through the grapevine that my Charity Trek through Nepal may be cancelled, as there are not enough people interested in going there. I can't imagine why! :)

Anyway plans are underway to limit the damages. ..

If cancellation is confirmed I'm hatching a backup plan which will probably involve trekking through the mud of the Mexican Jungle....

I'd love to hear peoples comments about this as an alternative (especially my sponsors) so if you have comments please send them in.

Here's the potential revised itinerary:

Mexican Jungle Challenge

Oh by the way I can't swim :)

Gareth

2006-04-09T14:52:00.000Z

The key to world peace is simple....

People need to realise that control can be obtained through non violent means.

Use your voice.

2006-04-09T12:21:00.000Z

To the left, left and beyond...
We have left-off...

Haven't had many proper blog submissions lately people have we? sorry about that.

I've been out of action for the past couple of months with a hamstring injury which means I haven't been able to train that much for my WaterAid trek. Suffice to say I am now on my way up again folks so don't panic. I'll be a picture of health soon :)

Political thought of the day:
Have you been watching the news lately it actually really interesting to observe what it going on around the world. France, Peru, Belarus, Ukraine, Venezuala, China....

The people are gaining control of their countries again. There will be some slip ups on the way, like China's crap disregard for the environment (learn from our mistakes folks!). But on the whole things are swinging in the right direction. Which is a bit of luck really because the right-wingers were starting to take a hold again.

Personally I'd like to see a forth party in the UK, someone that embraces the best parts of the 3 parties and is creative and bold enough to take tough measures on climate change, nationalising the energy utilities so they can work for the good of the environment, working with the farmers in this country so we can become more self sufficient. You could say the 'Prince Charles' life ethic needs come to light. Turns out he was right all along :)

If the Conservative party have any sense they will adapt to this not so new territory that British Politics really needs.

If the Labour party have any sense they will make New Labour, Old Labour. Ken where are you?

If the Liberal Democrats have any sense Menzies will go back to the Social Democrat Party.

The current system is dying and we all need to think about the future.

écoutez....

2006-03-30T19:23:00.000Z

This is a blog from someone Bahgdad:

http://www.riverbendblog.blogspot.com/

It's very interesting. - Rich writing

2006-03-29T21:37:00.000Z

WORLD BANK DEBT CANCELLATION AGREED

The World Bank yesterday finally agreed the cancellation of up to $37 billion of poor country debts, as part of the deal first announced by the G8 in 2005. Thank you to all supporters who put pressure on G8 governments and the World Bank over the last year – and kept pushing over the details until the last minute. Your pressure paid off!

Debt campaigners have long been calling for 100% cancellation of World Bank debts – a principle which this deal now puts into practice (at least for some countries, on debts up to a certain date). Most recently, Jubilee Debt Campaign supporters and others worldwide had been emailing the World Bank protesting that their proposals for delivering the G8 deal would have left poor countries facing a delay of up to 15 months between qualifying for this debt cancellation and actually getting it! Many thousands of you emailed – the World Bank has now reversed this decision. Thank you for keeping the pressure on right up until the last minute!

Of course this deal does not provide everything you have long called for – full cancellation of all unpayable and unjust debts, an end to harmful and unfair conditions, and a fair, open process for resolving debt crises. But it is a very important step – and your campaigning was crucial. Zambia, for instance, has just released its new budget: both health and education spending are going up as a result of debt cancellation, which is making possible plans for 4,500 new teachers, a school building programme, new healthcare staff and an expanded HIV/AIDS programme.

-Source . . . Update from Jubilee Debt Campaign

2006-03-25T17:47:00.000Z

The arms trade is out of control.

There are around 639 million small arms and light weapons in the world today. Eight million more are produced every year.

Guns have never been so easy to obtain. Without strict control these weapons will continue to fuel violent conflict, state repression, crime, and domestic abuse.

The global arms trade that brings these weapons into the hands of killers is big business. Per year, the value of global authorised arms exports is $21 billion.

From the inner cities of Britain to the pastoralist communities of Kenya, gun culture is on the increase.

We all have a part to play. How many of you have stocks in weapons manuafacturers? How many of you have Ethical Investments. If you really think about the links can be rather disturbing.

Last week I attended a Student Union Council at Southampton University. The students were concerned about the University's shareholding in BAE and The Smiths Group. Both these companies make weapons. What was more worrying was the fact that the University Pension Scheme in England (PASNAS) is a BIG investor, but lets not single them out, most pension scheme portfolios in the UK and around the world will be big investors!

I'm not against guns. I've been to the USA a few times and i've been to gun ranges and I have loved it! Shooting is a sport. But its a sport that can so easily be abused.

I am against the proliferation of weapons into the hands in dictactorships, mercenaries, criminals and countries with human rights abuses...

Look back at the children at the top of this blog again.

www.ethicalinvestor.com

2006-03-25T14:22:00.000Z

Thank you George Bush.

Thanks to the wonderful George Bush we've all realised how important democracy is. How important it is that we all use our voices to make sure bastards like this do not inherit the earth. I don't advocate violence George but I do advocate democracy in its truest form!

Slowly we're starting to come together ...

Thank you George Bush. Your negligence of the Environment has made us all realise how important it is that you are not left to destroy it.

Thank you George Bush. Your right-wing christian tendancies have put more people off religion. (We'll leave that topic until another day folks :) )

Thank you George Bush. You've made the world realise it doesn't want to be anything like you.

2006-03-18T19:12:00.000Z

There's Evolution in ..... Revolution

2006-03-18T18:06:00.000Z

The people are rising!

'Tens of thousands of people have begun marches in French towns and cities to protest against a new law making it easier to dismiss young workers.'

Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4819052.stm

2006-03-14T20:02:00.000Z

Listen to me again....

The Climate is Changing!!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/4803460.stm

Gareth - BSc(Hons)EnvSci :)

Yeah, everyone's got a degree but they are all in different subjects people!

..trust me this increase is not good! Just look at the fossil record - the Earth's climate has been tropical in the past and it will be again.

Scrap all this creationism debate! God can still exist and so can bloody fossils!

2006-03-13T20:39:00.000Z

One 'helluva' website!!!

Check this beast out people... What a cracker!

http://cityhippy.blogspot.com/

Amazing tips for this generation we're all part of.

2006-03-13T12:26:00.000Z

This time I can't help myself from believing it is the fault of France...

'Yet again the poorest countries have been sidelined, as ministers from the world's leading trading nations failed to make significant progress'

'President Bush has already stated - and he seems to be genuine - that he will abolish all agriculture subsidies if Europe and others do likewise.'

'Once again, the problem is that Europe, and France in particular, will not face down its farmers and so will not seize President Bush's challenge. If it is the case that a handful of countries can veto proposals that would resuscitate trade for poorer nations then it will be a permanent scar on world governance. For that reason Tony Blair and President Bush should conjure up a valedictory initiative to wrest something from the ashes of the talks. Africa - not represented in London - deserves better than to be left by the wayside so rich countries can wallow in subsidies that do no good for anyone including themselves.'

Source : http://business.guardian.co.uk/story/0,,1729623,00.html#article_continue

How long do the world poorest have to suffer? Once again the institution of France shuns the world's poor to look after it's own people. Did the rural folk scar the politicians when they courted the Guillotine all those years ago? It seems like the country is scared of its rural minority. In a country so fundamentally racist it is no surprise that once again 'Vichy' France are building walls to stop the the world poorest being given the opportunities they deserve. It seems such a simple decline to participate yet their simple 'Non' will undoubtedly cause tens of thousands of deaths. Yes this weekend death warrants were signed. Thankyou France.

Now can someone tell me again why there were race riots in Paris?

Gareth

2006-03-10T13:18:00.000Z

Here is a great little site for all of those who are interested in the facts.... http://www.infowars.com/index.html

2006-03-08T21:41:00.000Z

'Statoil and Shell plan to take CO2 from a power station in Norway and pipe it to an oil field, where it will be used to force oil to the surface.' - http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/4786736.stm

When I read this article I started to wonder what this schemes net carbon reduction was. They are storing Carbon Dioxide into ground resevoirs - great!. But actually how much extra carbon is coming out in the form of oil? I don't know for sure but I suspect its more!

I've just been on Shell's website. Is it just me or is there no contact email address? I think im going to call them and ask for their research regarding this under the Freedom of Information Act. If thats possible!?

2006-03-08T14:25:00.000Z

23:56 -
Climate countdown...
Africa development...
Evolution by the people and not £/€/$/

Countdown
Sorry to depress you all, but its too late! For years we've warned people about the risks of pollution and global warming! Warning after warning.... Governments failing on promise after promise.....

The world is well past the eleventh hour! The sea levels will rise and the earth's temperatures will soar.

Antarctia will be interesting when it reveals it's edges and freak weather will become more frequent.

History tells us it has happened once and now it is about to happen again. It also teaches us that great civilisations have ended due to the climate.

Never underestimate the Earth - it will wipe out everything in a breath if its wants to. People talk about terrorism. Well the Earth is our biggest Terrorist. But only when you piss it off. If you have a house near the coast that isn't on high ground then I suggest you move. You might lose it in the next few decades. :)

Why can't we run water into Africa from the sea? Maybe our socieites are intitutionally racist

If we really wanted to supply water, a grand civil enginneering scheme like this would be the answer.

Africa
Maybe when the climate does warm up and the ignorant among us start to believe in Climate change then watering Africa will become more important. It will soon become apparent 'en masse' that we need to start locking the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere into biomass (trees, plants, etc).

The Earth's ecosystem is extremely delicate. It only takes a one degree rise in average worldwide temperatures for huge change!

Think about it if we irrigate Africa, poverty is reduced, animals thrive, the rainforests grow, Africa develops, and war (dependant on poverty) declines... The growth in biomass will counteract the growing amount of Carbon emissions.

In the interest of preserving our own species that 'Watering of Africa' is not something we can afford to have doubts about. It is imperitive to everyones survival.

Money
Part of the problem we experience in our society is the continuous battle between 'The company' philosophy and moral correctness/self preservation. Traditionally 'The company' does not care what damage it does. It devours and is only limited by legislation. Profit is it's goal.

I just came back from Belgium - most of the newer houses there use rainwater to flush the toilets and run washing machines. But guess what? the water companies were owned by the public. Public owned companies are driven by the people for the people.

Private companies live for profit. Why would they want you to save water? Think about that.

The environmental decisions we face today can be solved with common sense. It's just a shame that a lot of people are too wrapped up in their own existance to even think about the welfare of their grand-children.

2006-02-23T12:29:00.000Z

Was on a course in Birmingham last week. Met some really interesting people.

Thanks for the link Andy - www.eattheseasons.co.uk

2006-02-02T12:26:00.000Z

Blimey! It looks like the USA is changing tact!

1 day after the State of the Union address in which old 'Bandar' Bush admitted to the USA's over-dependance on overseas oil and the need to invest in alternative technologies we again see our American cousins making another bold decision.

The end of cotton subsidies! This can only mean that more Third World farmer will be given the opportunity to sell their cotton for fair prices on the US market and lift themselves out of poverty.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/4672786.stm

2006-01-24T15:23:00.000Z

Observation of the day - Our 'great' country deals death

The five biggest arms dealers in the entire world are US, UK, France, Russia and China....

They just happen to be the only 5 members of the UN security council

2006-01-24T08:21:00.000Z

Mea Culpa... I've shopped at Tesco's

Yes that's right. I've been shopping at Tesco's. Despite everything presented on http://www.tescopoly.org/

Tesco is within walking distance to my flat. If I walk, I cause less local pollution. If I drive I create more pollution and shop at ASDA which as a student I loved. However it is now owned by WalMart. I loved WalMart as well when I was shopping in the states, until I realised that everything wasn't quite as it seemed :( http://www.walmartmovie.com/

So to try and make the best of a bad situation I have been dropping my requests for more Fairtrade and product origin labelling into Tesco's customer satisfaction box each time I visit. Here is their reply. Is it a win? Or is it a fob off? You decide?

2006-01-16T22:21:00.000Z

"Today there is no longer a choice between violence and nonviolence. It is either nonviolence or nonexistence. I feel that we've got to look at this total thing anew and recognize that we must live together. That the whole world now it is one--not only geographically but it has to become one in terms of brotherly concern. Whether we live in America or Asia or Africa we are all tied in a single garment of destiny and whatever effects one directly, effects one in-directly." - 1967 Interview with Dr Martin Luther King Jr.

2006-01-12T21:02:00.000Z

Observation of the day:

IRAN, nukes, sustainable energy... Where has common sense gone?

I was driving to work this morning thinking... You know what? I get the impression from listening to the Media that Iran's supreme leader Ali Khamenei is a bit of a nutter really.

That said though does it give us the right to put sanctions on Iran because they want Nuclear power to fuel there energy demands? After all isn't the UK thinking about building more Nuclear stations? Hmm seems hypocritical to me. If Iran genuinely want Nuclear energy as a power option maybe we should help them build sustainable options. Then we'll know for sure whether they want nuclear for power or for weapons. Go green and everyone will be happy!

2006-01-10T13:31:00.000Z

Now that the new year has started its important to remember that 2005 was not the end of the Make Poverty History campaign. To be honest I wasn't too sure what was going to happen this year but one thing I have been sure of it the fact that I'm damned if I'm going to give up.

Is Poverty history yet? NO!

Then lets keep on fighting!

Sign up, Your country needs you :)
http://www.makepovertyhistory.org/keepcampaigning/

2006-01-04T18:43:00.000Z

Playing Hide and Seek with the Freedom of Speech

Back in December I heard an interview with Lord Falconer on the radio. Actually it was the first time I had been introduced to something which should be close to all our hearts - The Freedom of Speech.

Did you know that you can no longer protest outside of Parliament without first getting permission from the police? Apparently extra security is needed!

'Maya Evans, 25, recited the 97 names by the Cenotaph memorial to Britain's war dead in Whitehall, near Downing Street.

She was found guilty of breaking a new law stopping unauthorised protests within half a mile of Parliament.

The lord chancellor sai d the law was a "sensible" precaution to stop disorder rather than an attack on free speech.'

Source:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4523838.stm

Is it just me or does anyone else feel that the media and the government are playing the old 'Terrorism' card a bit too much?

As a child of the 80s I remember the Irish Republican Army (IRA) barraging cities like London with nail bombs. Trust me the situation now seems a lot better than it did then. This ‘new’ threat has opened the gates to prejudice and fear. Did the government introduce laws a gainst protesting then?

Actually no! I don’t think they did.

The Home Secretary, Charles Clarke argued that he had to ask permission when he was young so why shouldn't we now?

'When I was a young student activist we used to organise much larger demonstrations than this outside Westminster, but always agreed with the police and that's the way things always have been in this country'

Source:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/low/uk_politics/4527274.stm

Mr Clarke was born on September 21st, 1950. It seems a little unusual to start applying rules from his childhood to these modern times, when we should really be looking to the future don't you think? Rules for modern times! Not times gone by.

For many people protesting outside parliament, it's a way of making their voice heard to the people that can really make change – the politicians.

Not everyone knows they have to co ntact the police before protesting. The government has introduced a law which the general population don't know about. If people try to make their voice heard they will find themselves quickly arrested.

Don't get me wrong. It's not the fault of the Police. I think the police do a great job, I even used to work for them. The Police can only follow the law – they don’t make it.

Anyway the whole thing ticked me off and I wrote to my local MP Mr Robert Syms sharing my opinions and asking what the view of his party was (Conservative).

You can fax your MP, just like I did at the following address:

http://www.writetothem.com

Give it a go! After all isn't that what democracy is all about?

Here is my response:

2006-01-04T17:26:00.000Z

Help create a future for those less fortunate then ourselves:

http://www.pledgebank.com/GiveAFuture

2006-01-02T15:33:00.000Z

Well it's 2006. Fortunately we have been spared from the large scale natural disasters that ushered in the new year of 2005 and for that we can all be grateful.

Many of us make New Year resolutions to give up things in a vain attempt to make our lives better.

This year my New Year resolution is simple...

I'm NOT giving up damn thing, and I won't shut up either!

I'll continue campaigning...
I'll continue asking the world's politicians for a better future...
I'll continue to fight...

Fuck 'em!

G

2005-12-31T09:37:00.000Z

I found this today on a site called HotorNot (of all places) seems like an appropriate epitaph to 2005. :)

'Let's salute the crazy ones, the rebels, the ones who see things differently. We can disagree with them, the only thing we can't do is ignore them, because the ones who are crazy enough to believe they can change the world are the ones who do.'

Happy New Year!

2005-12-24T12:30:00.000Z

It’s Christmas eve 2005. What a great year for the people this has been. A really great year!

Just like the movements in the 60’s something is stirring in the air. The people are getting restless with empty promises and they are banding together. Don’t believe me? Well just watch the news… or remember all the events that have taken place since the Tsunami last boxing day.

In 2006 the people will get even closer. January 2006 will see the One Earth Concert in Cardiff. A massive call to the people to improve the environment. We can lobby politicians all we want but actually each and everyone of us has the power to make the changes a lot faster than any politician.

Yes, 2005 taught us that the people still have the power.

Merry Christmas and a Peaceful New Year to you all

There's Evolution in ..... Revolution

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March 10th, 2007

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