La société de Madoff mise en liquidation, des centaines de millions de pertes déclarées - Economie - Le Monde.fr
Woops- Ponzi is alive and kicking it seems. Everytime the very rich try and buck the market, whether it be investing in the loan sharking that was subprime, or trusting one of their own with their millions who promises he can beat the market it turns out that the old aphorism that you can't beat the market over the medium term kicks in. When will they ever learn, or does greed just short circuit all rationale?
Tuesday 16 December 2008
Wednesday 12 November 2008
Letter to Obama
Delighted as I was with the election of Obama it is woirth noting that he does come from the right of the Democratic Party.
this timley letter from Ralph Nader should be read by all to give a taste of what is likely to come.
Dear Senator Obama:
In your nearly two-year presidential campaign, the words "hope and change," "change and hope" have been your trademark declarations. Yet there is an asymmetry between those objectives and your political character that succumbs to contrary centers of power that want not "hope and change" but the continuation of the power-entrenched status quo.
Far more than Senator McCain, you have received enormous, unprecedented contributions from corporate interests, Wall Street interests and, most interestingly, big corporate law firm attorneys. Never before has a Democratic nominee for President achieved this supremacy over his Republican counterpart. Why, apart from your unconditional vote for the $700 billion Wall Street bailout, are these large corporate interests investing so much in Senator Obama? Could it be that in your state Senate record, your U.S. Senate record and your presidential campaign record (favoring nuclear power, coal plants, offshore oil drilling, corporate subsidies including the 1872 Mining Act and avoiding any comprehensive program to crack down on the corporate crime wave and the bloated, wasteful military budget, for example) you have shown that you are their man?
To advance change and hope, the presidential persona requires character, courage, integrity— not expediency, accommodation and short-range opportunism. Take, for example, your transformation from an articulate defender of Palestinian rights in Chicago before your run for the U.S. Senate to an acolyte, a dittoman for the hard line AIPAC lobby, which bolsters the militaristic oppression, occupation, blockage, colonization and land-water seizures over the years of the Palestinian peoples and their shrunken territories in the West Bank and Gaza. Eric Alterman summarized numerous polls in a December 2007 issue of The Nation magazine showing that AIPAC policies are opposed by a majority of Jewish-Americans.
You know quite well that only when the U.S. Government supports the Israeli and Palestinian peace movements, that years ago worked out a detailed two-state solution (which is supported by a majority of Israelis and Palestinians), will there be a chance for a peaceful resolution of this 60-year plus conflict. Yet you align yourself with the hard-liners, so much so that in your infamous, demeaning speech to the AIPAC convention right after you gained the nomination of the Democratic Party, you supported an "undivided Jerusalem," and opposed negotiations with Hamas— the elected government in Gaza. Once again, you ignored the will of the Israeli people who, in a March 1, 2008 poll by the respected newspaper Haaretz, showed that 64% of Israelis favored "direct negotiations with Hamas." Siding with the AIPAC hard-liners is what one of the many leading Palestinians advocating dialogue and peace with the Israeli people was describing when he wrote "Anti-semitism today is the persecution of Palestinian society by the Israeli state."
During your visit to Israel this summer, you scheduled a mere 45 minutes of your time for Palestinians with no news conference, and no visit to Palestinian refugee camps that would have focused the media on the brutalization of the Palestinians. Your trip supported the illegal, cruel blockade of Gaza in defiance of international law and the United Nations charter. You focused on southern Israeli casualties which during the past year have totaled one civilian casualty to every 400 Palestinian casualties on the Gaza side. Instead of a statesmanship that decried all violence and its replacement with acceptance of the Arab League's 2002 proposal to permit a viable Palestinian state within the 1967 borders in return for full economic and diplomatic relations between Arab countries and Israel, you played the role of a cheap politician, leaving the area and Palestinians with the feeling of much shock and little awe.
David Levy, a former Israeli peace negotiator, described your trip succinctly: "There was almost a willful display of indifference to the fact that there are two narratives here. This could serve him well as a candidate, but not as a President." Palestinian American commentator, Ali Abunimah, noted that Obama did not utter a single criticism of Israel, "of its relentless settlement and wall construction, of the closures that make life unlivable for millions of Palestinians. …Even the Bush administration recently criticized Israeli's use of cluster bombs against Lebanese civilians [see www.atfl.org for elaboration]. But Obama defended Israeli's assault on Lebanon as an exercise of its 'legitimate right to defend itself.'"
In numerous columns Gideon Levy, writing in Haaretz, strongly criticized the Israeli government's assault on civilians in Gaza, including attacks on "the heart of a crowded refugee camp… with horrible bloodshed" in early 2008.
Israeli writer and peace advocate, Uri Avnery, described Obama's appearance before AIPAC as one that "broke all records for obsequiousness and fawning, adding that Obama "is prepared to sacrifice the most basic American interests. After all, th US has a vital interest in achieving an Israeli-Palestinian peace that will allow it to find ways to the hearts of the Arab masses from Iraq to Morocco. Obama has harmed his image in the Muslim world and mortgaged his future— if and when he is elected president.," he said, adding, "Of one thing I am certain: Obama's declarations at the AIPAC conference are very, very bad for peace. And what is bad for peace is bad for Israel, bad for the world and bad for the Palestinian people."
A further illustration of your deficiency of character is the way you turned your back on the Muslim-Americans in this country. You refused to send surrogates to speak to voters at their events. Having visited numerous churches and synagogues, you refused to visit a single Mosque in America. Even George W. Bush visited the Grand Mosque in Washington D.C. after 9/11 to express proper sentiments of tolerance before a frightened major religious group of innocents.
Although the New York Times published a major article on June 24, 2008 titled "Muslim Voters Detect a Snub from Obama" (by Andrea Elliott), citing examples of your aversion to these Americans who come from all walks of life, who serve in the armed forces and who work to live the American dream. Three days earlier the International Herald Tribune published an article by Roger Cohen titled "Why Obama Should Visit a Mosque." None of these comments and reports change your political bigotry against Muslim-Americans— even though your father was a Muslim from Kenya.
Perhaps nothing illustrated your utter lack of political courage or even the mildest version of this trait than your surrendering to demands of the hard-liners to prohibit former president Jimmy Carter from speaking at the Democratic National Convention. This is a tradition for former presidents and one accorded in prime time to Bill Clinton this year.
Here was a President who negotiated peace between Israel and Egypt, but his recent book pressing the dominant Israeli superpower to avoid Apartheid of the Palestinians and make peace was all that it took to sideline him. Instead of an important address to the nation by Jimmy Carter on this critical international problem, he was relegated to a stroll across the stage to "tumultuous applause," following a showing of a film about the Carter Center's post-Katrina work. Shame on you, Barack Obama!
But then your shameful behavior has extended to many other areas of American life. (See the factual analysis by my running mate, Matt Gonzalez, on www.votenader.org). You have turned your back on the 100-million poor Americans composed of poor whites, African-Americans, and Latinos. You always mention helping the "middle class" but you omit, repeatedly, mention of the "poor" in America.
Should you be elected President, it must be more than an unprecedented upward career move following a brilliantly unprincipled campaign that spoke "change" yet demonstrated actual obeisance to the concentration power of the "corporate supremacists." It must be about shifting the power from the few to the many. It must be a White House presided over by a black man who does not turn his back on the downtrodden here and abroad but challenges the forces of greed, dictatorial control of labor, consumers and taxpayers, and the militarization of foreign policy. It must be a White House that is transforming of American politics — opening it up to the public funding of elections (through voluntary approaches)— and allowing smaller candidates to have a chance to be heard on debates and in the fullness of their now restricted civil liberties. Call it a competitive democracy.
Your presidential campaign again and again has demonstrated cowardly stands. "Hope" some say springs eternal." But not when "reality" consumes it daily.
Sincerely,
Ralph Nader
this timley letter from Ralph Nader should be read by all to give a taste of what is likely to come.
Dear Senator Obama:
In your nearly two-year presidential campaign, the words "hope and change," "change and hope" have been your trademark declarations. Yet there is an asymmetry between those objectives and your political character that succumbs to contrary centers of power that want not "hope and change" but the continuation of the power-entrenched status quo.
Far more than Senator McCain, you have received enormous, unprecedented contributions from corporate interests, Wall Street interests and, most interestingly, big corporate law firm attorneys. Never before has a Democratic nominee for President achieved this supremacy over his Republican counterpart. Why, apart from your unconditional vote for the $700 billion Wall Street bailout, are these large corporate interests investing so much in Senator Obama? Could it be that in your state Senate record, your U.S. Senate record and your presidential campaign record (favoring nuclear power, coal plants, offshore oil drilling, corporate subsidies including the 1872 Mining Act and avoiding any comprehensive program to crack down on the corporate crime wave and the bloated, wasteful military budget, for example) you have shown that you are their man?
To advance change and hope, the presidential persona requires character, courage, integrity— not expediency, accommodation and short-range opportunism. Take, for example, your transformation from an articulate defender of Palestinian rights in Chicago before your run for the U.S. Senate to an acolyte, a dittoman for the hard line AIPAC lobby, which bolsters the militaristic oppression, occupation, blockage, colonization and land-water seizures over the years of the Palestinian peoples and their shrunken territories in the West Bank and Gaza. Eric Alterman summarized numerous polls in a December 2007 issue of The Nation magazine showing that AIPAC policies are opposed by a majority of Jewish-Americans.
You know quite well that only when the U.S. Government supports the Israeli and Palestinian peace movements, that years ago worked out a detailed two-state solution (which is supported by a majority of Israelis and Palestinians), will there be a chance for a peaceful resolution of this 60-year plus conflict. Yet you align yourself with the hard-liners, so much so that in your infamous, demeaning speech to the AIPAC convention right after you gained the nomination of the Democratic Party, you supported an "undivided Jerusalem," and opposed negotiations with Hamas— the elected government in Gaza. Once again, you ignored the will of the Israeli people who, in a March 1, 2008 poll by the respected newspaper Haaretz, showed that 64% of Israelis favored "direct negotiations with Hamas." Siding with the AIPAC hard-liners is what one of the many leading Palestinians advocating dialogue and peace with the Israeli people was describing when he wrote "Anti-semitism today is the persecution of Palestinian society by the Israeli state."
During your visit to Israel this summer, you scheduled a mere 45 minutes of your time for Palestinians with no news conference, and no visit to Palestinian refugee camps that would have focused the media on the brutalization of the Palestinians. Your trip supported the illegal, cruel blockade of Gaza in defiance of international law and the United Nations charter. You focused on southern Israeli casualties which during the past year have totaled one civilian casualty to every 400 Palestinian casualties on the Gaza side. Instead of a statesmanship that decried all violence and its replacement with acceptance of the Arab League's 2002 proposal to permit a viable Palestinian state within the 1967 borders in return for full economic and diplomatic relations between Arab countries and Israel, you played the role of a cheap politician, leaving the area and Palestinians with the feeling of much shock and little awe.
David Levy, a former Israeli peace negotiator, described your trip succinctly: "There was almost a willful display of indifference to the fact that there are two narratives here. This could serve him well as a candidate, but not as a President." Palestinian American commentator, Ali Abunimah, noted that Obama did not utter a single criticism of Israel, "of its relentless settlement and wall construction, of the closures that make life unlivable for millions of Palestinians. …Even the Bush administration recently criticized Israeli's use of cluster bombs against Lebanese civilians [see www.atfl.org for elaboration]. But Obama defended Israeli's assault on Lebanon as an exercise of its 'legitimate right to defend itself.'"
In numerous columns Gideon Levy, writing in Haaretz, strongly criticized the Israeli government's assault on civilians in Gaza, including attacks on "the heart of a crowded refugee camp… with horrible bloodshed" in early 2008.
Israeli writer and peace advocate, Uri Avnery, described Obama's appearance before AIPAC as one that "broke all records for obsequiousness and fawning, adding that Obama "is prepared to sacrifice the most basic American interests. After all, th US has a vital interest in achieving an Israeli-Palestinian peace that will allow it to find ways to the hearts of the Arab masses from Iraq to Morocco. Obama has harmed his image in the Muslim world and mortgaged his future— if and when he is elected president.," he said, adding, "Of one thing I am certain: Obama's declarations at the AIPAC conference are very, very bad for peace. And what is bad for peace is bad for Israel, bad for the world and bad for the Palestinian people."
A further illustration of your deficiency of character is the way you turned your back on the Muslim-Americans in this country. You refused to send surrogates to speak to voters at their events. Having visited numerous churches and synagogues, you refused to visit a single Mosque in America. Even George W. Bush visited the Grand Mosque in Washington D.C. after 9/11 to express proper sentiments of tolerance before a frightened major religious group of innocents.
Although the New York Times published a major article on June 24, 2008 titled "Muslim Voters Detect a Snub from Obama" (by Andrea Elliott), citing examples of your aversion to these Americans who come from all walks of life, who serve in the armed forces and who work to live the American dream. Three days earlier the International Herald Tribune published an article by Roger Cohen titled "Why Obama Should Visit a Mosque." None of these comments and reports change your political bigotry against Muslim-Americans— even though your father was a Muslim from Kenya.
Perhaps nothing illustrated your utter lack of political courage or even the mildest version of this trait than your surrendering to demands of the hard-liners to prohibit former president Jimmy Carter from speaking at the Democratic National Convention. This is a tradition for former presidents and one accorded in prime time to Bill Clinton this year.
Here was a President who negotiated peace between Israel and Egypt, but his recent book pressing the dominant Israeli superpower to avoid Apartheid of the Palestinians and make peace was all that it took to sideline him. Instead of an important address to the nation by Jimmy Carter on this critical international problem, he was relegated to a stroll across the stage to "tumultuous applause," following a showing of a film about the Carter Center's post-Katrina work. Shame on you, Barack Obama!
But then your shameful behavior has extended to many other areas of American life. (See the factual analysis by my running mate, Matt Gonzalez, on www.votenader.org). You have turned your back on the 100-million poor Americans composed of poor whites, African-Americans, and Latinos. You always mention helping the "middle class" but you omit, repeatedly, mention of the "poor" in America.
Should you be elected President, it must be more than an unprecedented upward career move following a brilliantly unprincipled campaign that spoke "change" yet demonstrated actual obeisance to the concentration power of the "corporate supremacists." It must be about shifting the power from the few to the many. It must be a White House presided over by a black man who does not turn his back on the downtrodden here and abroad but challenges the forces of greed, dictatorial control of labor, consumers and taxpayers, and the militarization of foreign policy. It must be a White House that is transforming of American politics — opening it up to the public funding of elections (through voluntary approaches)— and allowing smaller candidates to have a chance to be heard on debates and in the fullness of their now restricted civil liberties. Call it a competitive democracy.
Your presidential campaign again and again has demonstrated cowardly stands. "Hope" some say springs eternal." But not when "reality" consumes it daily.
Sincerely,
Ralph Nader
YouTube - Tribute to Paul Robeson, Mumia Abu-Jamal
YouTube - Tribute to Paul Robeson, Mumia Abu-Jamal: ""
A must watch about a great man, probably one of the greatest Americans in the 20th century.
A must watch about a great man, probably one of the greatest Americans in the 20th century.
Thursday 7 August 2008
Climate change: Prepare for global temperature rise of 4C, warns top scientist | Environment | The Guardian
Climate change: Prepare for global temperature rise of 4C, warns top scientist | Environment | The Guardian
Once again the Uk's government advisors show that Ministers are recieving intense expert opinion on the impact of their environmental ploicies, energy and transportation- and then completely ignoring it prefering political expediency to rule.
Gievn that the Labour government stands as much chance as lasting through 2009 as a snow ball has in hell, now is the good time to really put some muscle behind the Climate Change Bill, stop T5, invest and nationalise public transport, stop this eco-town nonsense and invest heavily in public carbon neutral housing.
But will they do it and leave a legacy they can at last be proud of? Don't hold your breath.
Once again the Uk's government advisors show that Ministers are recieving intense expert opinion on the impact of their environmental ploicies, energy and transportation- and then completely ignoring it prefering political expediency to rule.
Gievn that the Labour government stands as much chance as lasting through 2009 as a snow ball has in hell, now is the good time to really put some muscle behind the Climate Change Bill, stop T5, invest and nationalise public transport, stop this eco-town nonsense and invest heavily in public carbon neutral housing.
But will they do it and leave a legacy they can at last be proud of? Don't hold your breath.
Wednesday 6 August 2008
greenormal
greenormal
John Grant author of The Green Marketing Manifesto trying,and sometime succeeding, sometime failing, to do a toe step round the dicotomy of green marketing.
John Grant author of The Green Marketing Manifesto trying,and sometime succeeding, sometime failing, to do a toe step round the dicotomy of green marketing.
Valuing Nature
Valuing Nature Some very interesting stuff on our relationship to stuff, and our relationship with nature
Tuesday 5 August 2008
YouTube - Police incursion expelled from climate camp
YouTube - Police incursion expelled from climate camp: ""
Not really the boys and girls in blue's greatest or proudest moment
Not really the boys and girls in blue's greatest or proudest moment
ClimateCamp Website
ClimateCamp Website
Uptodate blogging of life at the Climate Camp. Stay informed and get involved.
Go boys and girls go
Uptodate blogging of life at the Climate Camp. Stay informed and get involved.
Go boys and girls go
George Monbiot: The stakes could not be higher. Everything hinges on stopping coal | Comment is free | The Guardian
George Monbiot: The stakes could not be higher. Everything hinges on stopping coal | Comment is free | The Guardian
The Climate Camp is a wonderful example of a physical series of creative communities combining into a objective driven colloborative network. I think what they are doing is amazing and wish them all the best.
The on-going police intimidation is a disgrace, and just shows how civil liberties have been seriously eroded since 9/11. The so -called anti-terrorism powers the police now have seem primarily focussed on destroying legitimate forms of protest.
God Bless NewLabour and God Bless America
The Climate Camp is a wonderful example of a physical series of creative communities combining into a objective driven colloborative network. I think what they are doing is amazing and wish them all the best.
The on-going police intimidation is a disgrace, and just shows how civil liberties have been seriously eroded since 9/11. The so -called anti-terrorism powers the police now have seem primarily focussed on destroying legitimate forms of protest.
God Bless NewLabour and God Bless America
PR Newswire for Journalists :: All Releases
Google dominates online search
If you ever wonder if you should optimise for all the major serach engines this comScore results show that actually that Google has pulled the search version of a Microsoft.
Not really good news as one small change in the Google algorithm and wosh, your site traffic can plummet
Property May 2008 June 2008 Pt Change
Total Internet 100.0 100.0 0.0
Google Sites 74.7 75.3 0.5
eBay 5.7 5.5 -0.2
Yahoo! Sites 4.7 4.3 -0.4
Microsoft Sites 3.3 3.4 0.1
Ask Network 2.6 2.4 -0.2
AOL LLC 1.6 2.3 0.7
FACEBOOK.COM 2.0 2.2 0.2
Amazon Sites 0.7 0.7 0.0
BBC Sites 0.7 0.7 0.0
Rightmove Sites 0.7 0.6 0.0
If you ever wonder if you should optimise for all the major serach engines this comScore results show that actually that Google has pulled the search version of a Microsoft.
Not really good news as one small change in the Google algorithm and wosh, your site traffic can plummet
Property May 2008 June 2008 Pt Change
Total Internet 100.0 100.0 0.0
Google Sites 74.7 75.3 0.5
eBay 5.7 5.5 -0.2
Yahoo! Sites 4.7 4.3 -0.4
Microsoft Sites 3.3 3.4 0.1
Ask Network 2.6 2.4 -0.2
AOL LLC 1.6 2.3 0.7
FACEBOOK.COM 2.0 2.2 0.2
Amazon Sites 0.7 0.7 0.0
BBC Sites 0.7 0.7 0.0
Rightmove Sites 0.7 0.6 0.0
Tuesday 29 July 2008
YouTube - Fête de l'Huma 2007 (Pet Shop Boys mix)
The Fete de l'humaniite- Europe's largest outdoor festival, 500,000 people in 2 1/2 days, and its Red as hell
Friday 22 February 2008
Green Despatches
Green Despatches
Good coverage of the Green Party's Spring Conference, from the Red Pepper team- for me it shows that while the Green Left have a strong presence there is still a great deal of uncertainty in the Green Party re its stance on capitalism. Without a doubt they are hostile to the neo-liberal pro multinational capitalism/globalisation, however with regard to the fundamental issue of whether capitalism per se is unsustainable they are ambivalent.
Good coverage of the Green Party's Spring Conference, from the Red Pepper team- for me it shows that while the Green Left have a strong presence there is still a great deal of uncertainty in the Green Party re its stance on capitalism. Without a doubt they are hostile to the neo-liberal pro multinational capitalism/globalisation, however with regard to the fundamental issue of whether capitalism per se is unsustainable they are ambivalent.
Thursday 21 February 2008
La Bigarade, la fête de l'oranger en Minervois
La Bigarade, la fête de l'oranger en Minervois
It's the Fete de Bigarade this weekend at La Caunette in the Minervois, two days of celebrartion of a rather bitter orange that grows in the microclimate around La Caunette, with 30 or so local flower, tree and herb growers. Look out for the amazing Iris people from the Bassine de Thau, there are some great olives from Roussillon, as well as a range of herbs, roses, flowers. There are also a series of talks on growing olives, figs, making essential oils, and growing truffle infected oaks. Most of the talks are on Sunday. As usual with a good local Fete there is a parade of old fellas dressed up strange faux 18th century dress- the companions of the bitter orange, and a hearty lunch to be had on site.
We will be there on Saturday to try and find some interesting varieties of local herbs and flowers, as well as to nose around and chat.
It costs three euros to get in.
It's the Fete de Bigarade this weekend at La Caunette in the Minervois, two days of celebrartion of a rather bitter orange that grows in the microclimate around La Caunette, with 30 or so local flower, tree and herb growers. Look out for the amazing Iris people from the Bassine de Thau, there are some great olives from Roussillon, as well as a range of herbs, roses, flowers. There are also a series of talks on growing olives, figs, making essential oils, and growing truffle infected oaks. Most of the talks are on Sunday. As usual with a good local Fete there is a parade of old fellas dressed up strange faux 18th century dress- the companions of the bitter orange, and a hearty lunch to be had on site.
We will be there on Saturday to try and find some interesting varieties of local herbs and flowers, as well as to nose around and chat.
It costs three euros to get in.
Tuesday 19 February 2008
redgreen reflection
redgreen reflection
Another interesting Eco-socialist blog- this time from Birmingham
Another interesting Eco-socialist blog- this time from Birmingham
Monday 18 February 2008
Pankaj Mishra: As Sarkozy gropes for grand concepts the might of Asia looms over the west | Comment is free | The Guardian
Pankaj Mishra: As Sarkozy gropes for grand concepts the might of Asia looms over the west | Comment is free | The Guardian
Another take on the growing awareness that the power balance in the worldf is changing- this one from an Indian perspective, Pankaj Michra, on France's desperate struggle to find a place for itself in the changing world.
Another take on the growing awareness that the power balance in the worldf is changing- this one from an Indian perspective, Pankaj Michra, on France's desperate struggle to find a place for itself in the changing world.
Martin Jacques: Northern Rock's rescue is part of a geopolitical sea change | Comment is free | The Guardian
Martin Jacques: Northern Rock's rescue is part of a geopolitical sea change | Comment is free | The Guardian
Martin Jacques- the old editor of Marxism Today- writing about the shift in the global economic balance- a very strong take on the declining power of the US and the rise of India and China.
Martin Jacques- the old editor of Marxism Today- writing about the shift in the global economic balance- a very strong take on the declining power of the US and the rise of India and China.
Friday 15 February 2008
Chifon Rouge
At the local Parti communiste francais rally on local post, hospital, and electricity board closurers we all finished the meeting, and then in true french style sat down and eat together- comrades and attendees alike. As the coffee and rum was served out they all had a sing song. The Chifon Rouge is one of the traditional left songs, dating back to the 1930s I think. There is something very moving about sitting down with such a bunch of present activists, and older comrades in their 80s sharing food, memories, future activities, jokes and songs. Marxism may claim to be a science but there is a strong element of reomanticism and emotional commitment, certainly in my politics anyway.
Thursday 14 February 2008
Against The Grain: It's hard to see why nuclear is the favoured route' - Higher, Education - Independent.co.uk
Against The Grain: It's hard to see why nuclear is the favoured route' - Higher, Education - Independent.co.uk
So why have the Government gone nuclear, is it an energy security question- well maybe, a climate change issue a la James Lovelock, unlikely I would say. Despite the Climate Change Bill every other action of the Govt has flown in the face of their stated emissions targets- transport policy, house building policy, airport extension, bio-fuels. So what is it that draws a Labour administration, still packed with politicos who cut their teeth in CND, towards nuclear?
Well as always there is not a great conspiracy, it feels more like incompetance, inertia and short-termism -the energy portfolio is a complex one, it us also a big figures one- the cost of a power station- gas, coal or nuclear are big, and I mean BIG.
There is huge vested interests in the present centralised system, firstly of course it is easier to administer than a defused web like power infrastructure- there are a handful of big players who power and maintain the grid, it is easier to dicuss and design policy when there are say 100 decision makers rather than 100,000.
The Civil Servants at the Department for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform have a handle on a centralised system, and the power of policy advisors and implimentors is not to be overlooked in thsi process. In theory it is easier to police than a defused system- though in practise the quango that is suppose to monitor prices, Ofgem, seems to be riding the tiger rather than directing it.
There are the trade unions,particularly the old AEEU part of Unite the Union, who like their companies big- it's much easier to organise in a parastatal, or ex nationalised industry than it is a raft of smaller providers and service comapnies, and last but not least is the companies themselves, with professional lobbyists drawn from the ex politico and civil service ranks- who ensure that the number of alternatives that appear 'common sense' are kept down to the fewest possible.
On the otherside are a handful of companies such as solarcentury, NGO's such as Friends of the Earth and Greenpeace, campaigning organisations such as CND- and a raft of completing alternative energy associations all touting slightly different solutions.
On both sides you have the media, which despite their cutting edge logos and mission statements, are on the whole conservative with a small 'c' when hammering out opinions, and who are ultimately battling for audiences and the closely related advertising revnues. Equally on both sides are the opinion formers opinion formers- the think tanks, policy units and out and put PR/lobbying companies which are equally dependent on the whole on coporate sponsorship. He who pays the piper gets to pick the tune- as Exxon and Phillip Morris can tell you.
So a variety of different cultures and vested interests support the status quo, and it is only a handful of yes, media savy, but non-mainstream voices that oppose it.
So with civil society weighted as it is, it is hardly surprising that politicians- never the bravest souls in the first place- find it difficult to steer against the wind. Even if a politician was willing to look indepth at alternatives the first place he or she turns to is the supporting civil service, and try and get them to write a viability study of a defused, micro-generation and alternative energy policy would be like pulling teeth. Secondly the supporting infrastructure doesn't exisit at teh scale necessary- so a whole new industry needs to be nurtured into being- and that takes time, a good strategy- see the previous point, and cash- not necessarily more cash than the medium term investment needed for nuclear, or for that matter gas or coal, but cash under a new heading. That takes you into the heart of the Treasury- that most conservative of Govt Departments. It also takes you to one of the shortfalls of our democratic system, as PFI has shown, politicians are unable/unwilling to take responsibility for the type pf long term financial planning that any home buyer has to when taking out a mortguage for longer than 5 years.
What does it matter if over a 25 year period solution X is more expensive than solution Y? Most minsters hold their jobs for less than 3 years, the payment of long term loans is frankly somebody elses' problem. Long term financial planning for a politician is maybe 18 months. This does not gear itself to most policy sectors, particularky it does not gear itself towards energy which needs at minimum a 25 year time frame.
So the decision to go for nuclear, while deeply disappointing, is hardly surprising from such a spineless government. Would a conservative government have made a different decision, probably not, they would have made the same decision- only maybe faster.
So why have the Government gone nuclear, is it an energy security question- well maybe, a climate change issue a la James Lovelock, unlikely I would say. Despite the Climate Change Bill every other action of the Govt has flown in the face of their stated emissions targets- transport policy, house building policy, airport extension, bio-fuels. So what is it that draws a Labour administration, still packed with politicos who cut their teeth in CND, towards nuclear?
Well as always there is not a great conspiracy, it feels more like incompetance, inertia and short-termism -the energy portfolio is a complex one, it us also a big figures one- the cost of a power station- gas, coal or nuclear are big, and I mean BIG.
There is huge vested interests in the present centralised system, firstly of course it is easier to administer than a defused web like power infrastructure- there are a handful of big players who power and maintain the grid, it is easier to dicuss and design policy when there are say 100 decision makers rather than 100,000.
The Civil Servants at the Department for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform have a handle on a centralised system, and the power of policy advisors and implimentors is not to be overlooked in thsi process. In theory it is easier to police than a defused system- though in practise the quango that is suppose to monitor prices, Ofgem, seems to be riding the tiger rather than directing it.
There are the trade unions,particularly the old AEEU part of Unite the Union, who like their companies big- it's much easier to organise in a parastatal, or ex nationalised industry than it is a raft of smaller providers and service comapnies, and last but not least is the companies themselves, with professional lobbyists drawn from the ex politico and civil service ranks- who ensure that the number of alternatives that appear 'common sense' are kept down to the fewest possible.
On the otherside are a handful of companies such as solarcentury, NGO's such as Friends of the Earth and Greenpeace, campaigning organisations such as CND- and a raft of completing alternative energy associations all touting slightly different solutions.
On both sides you have the media, which despite their cutting edge logos and mission statements, are on the whole conservative with a small 'c' when hammering out opinions, and who are ultimately battling for audiences and the closely related advertising revnues. Equally on both sides are the opinion formers opinion formers- the think tanks, policy units and out and put PR/lobbying companies which are equally dependent on the whole on coporate sponsorship. He who pays the piper gets to pick the tune- as Exxon and Phillip Morris can tell you.
So a variety of different cultures and vested interests support the status quo, and it is only a handful of yes, media savy, but non-mainstream voices that oppose it.
So with civil society weighted as it is, it is hardly surprising that politicians- never the bravest souls in the first place- find it difficult to steer against the wind. Even if a politician was willing to look indepth at alternatives the first place he or she turns to is the supporting civil service, and try and get them to write a viability study of a defused, micro-generation and alternative energy policy would be like pulling teeth. Secondly the supporting infrastructure doesn't exisit at teh scale necessary- so a whole new industry needs to be nurtured into being- and that takes time, a good strategy- see the previous point, and cash- not necessarily more cash than the medium term investment needed for nuclear, or for that matter gas or coal, but cash under a new heading. That takes you into the heart of the Treasury- that most conservative of Govt Departments. It also takes you to one of the shortfalls of our democratic system, as PFI has shown, politicians are unable/unwilling to take responsibility for the type pf long term financial planning that any home buyer has to when taking out a mortguage for longer than 5 years.
What does it matter if over a 25 year period solution X is more expensive than solution Y? Most minsters hold their jobs for less than 3 years, the payment of long term loans is frankly somebody elses' problem. Long term financial planning for a politician is maybe 18 months. This does not gear itself to most policy sectors, particularky it does not gear itself towards energy which needs at minimum a 25 year time frame.
So the decision to go for nuclear, while deeply disappointing, is hardly surprising from such a spineless government. Would a conservative government have made a different decision, probably not, they would have made the same decision- only maybe faster.
Wednesday 13 February 2008
Spluch: Pepsi Launch New Drink Made From ‘All Natural’Ingredients
Spluch: Pepsi Launch New Drink Made From ‘All Natural’Ingredients
No this is all wrong- launching a 'natural' Pepsi is just obscene- I mean not the drink- I am sure it is actually quite nice- and I have been known to reach for a soda at times of absolute need- like the morning after the night before when all types of demons have been let loose in my brain each weilding a sledge hammer.
No what is wrong about it is that Pepsi, and Coke, have made a fortune out of rotting teeth and pushing sugar heavy sludge- and will continue to do so. Raw may use cane sugar and vegetable flavourings, but it isn't a radical break with anything. Even if it is successful it will still make what a 0.0001% contribution to Pepsi's turn over?
Now if Pepsi had really seen some sort of light, as opposed to a marketing niche, then it could start looking as the sustainability for its entire business, and the long term sustainability of the effects of its products on its customers and suppliers.
This is greenwash, sophisticated greenwash, but greenwash never the less.
But then Pepsi is not alone, did buying The BodyShop make L'Oreal look at the sustainability of the rest of its business, like it claimed it would- not a bit. Did Cadbury's convert to Organic and Fairtrade with the aquisition of Green and Blacks- nope. The just filled a market niche that their exisiting product range couldn't and where their exisiting corporate brand image woudl have meet a hostile response.
No this is all wrong- launching a 'natural' Pepsi is just obscene- I mean not the drink- I am sure it is actually quite nice- and I have been known to reach for a soda at times of absolute need- like the morning after the night before when all types of demons have been let loose in my brain each weilding a sledge hammer.
No what is wrong about it is that Pepsi, and Coke, have made a fortune out of rotting teeth and pushing sugar heavy sludge- and will continue to do so. Raw may use cane sugar and vegetable flavourings, but it isn't a radical break with anything. Even if it is successful it will still make what a 0.0001% contribution to Pepsi's turn over?
Now if Pepsi had really seen some sort of light, as opposed to a marketing niche, then it could start looking as the sustainability for its entire business, and the long term sustainability of the effects of its products on its customers and suppliers.
This is greenwash, sophisticated greenwash, but greenwash never the less.
But then Pepsi is not alone, did buying The BodyShop make L'Oreal look at the sustainability of the rest of its business, like it claimed it would- not a bit. Did Cadbury's convert to Organic and Fairtrade with the aquisition of Green and Blacks- nope. The just filled a market niche that their exisiting product range couldn't and where their exisiting corporate brand image woudl have meet a hostile response.
Genetically Modified Report 2008 finds pesticide use increasing - Natural Choices
Genetically Modified Report 2008 finds pesticide use increasing - Natural Choices
On of the arguements used by the GM lobby is that GM crops are crucial for dealing with hunger and poverty in developing countries. The latest report from Friend's of the Earth blows this arguement away by showing that no GM crops have been actually developed to deal with drought conditions. In reality GM crops are based on herbicide tolerant strains, what this means is that the crops can deal with heavier use of pesticides than normal crops allowing large, agribusiness, industrial farming to produce cheaper grain- mainly soy and maize, to feed to cattle- which should be eating grass- to make cheap meat, and of course to produce ethanol to feed the craze for bio-fuels. The third main GM crop is of course cotton, where the US has 50% of the world trade, protected by high subsidies and trade barriers. GM is just another development of the industrial food chain that has produced a situation where in the West- US/Europe- overnutition is now more of a threat to piblic health than undernutrition.
On of the arguements used by the GM lobby is that GM crops are crucial for dealing with hunger and poverty in developing countries. The latest report from Friend's of the Earth blows this arguement away by showing that no GM crops have been actually developed to deal with drought conditions. In reality GM crops are based on herbicide tolerant strains, what this means is that the crops can deal with heavier use of pesticides than normal crops allowing large, agribusiness, industrial farming to produce cheaper grain- mainly soy and maize, to feed to cattle- which should be eating grass- to make cheap meat, and of course to produce ethanol to feed the craze for bio-fuels. The third main GM crop is of course cotton, where the US has 50% of the world trade, protected by high subsidies and trade barriers. GM is just another development of the industrial food chain that has produced a situation where in the West- US/Europe- overnutition is now more of a threat to piblic health than undernutrition.
Monday 11 February 2008
Monday 4 February 2008
The Unsuitablog
The Unsuitablog
Shitty Airways does it again with 32 seat business only plane.
And they say the airlines are doing their best on climate change- really? You could have fooled me. Well spotted Kieth
Shitty Airways does it again with 32 seat business only plane.
And they say the airlines are doing their best on climate change- really? You could have fooled me. Well spotted Kieth
Friday 1 February 2008
Chaos Marxism
Chaos Marxism
Just goes to prove that situationism is alive and kicking in the 21st century, and thank goodness for that. The Anonymous attack on Scientology- try their Google bomb by typing in 'dangerous cult' into google search- is a rightous piece of cyber activism. Long may it continue.
Why it is try the web,and particularly the bloggisphere is full of nonsense, all sound and fury signifying nothing as the Bard once said, there are also a wide range of social activists, some with clear objectives, others with fleeting targets, who continue to prove that financial resources, and large legal teams, cannot protect a dodgy brand against the persistant,decentralised, and often cloaked attacks of the geeks.
It's not all viruses and spyware out there.
Just goes to prove that situationism is alive and kicking in the 21st century, and thank goodness for that. The Anonymous attack on Scientology- try their Google bomb by typing in 'dangerous cult' into google search- is a rightous piece of cyber activism. Long may it continue.
Why it is try the web,and particularly the bloggisphere is full of nonsense, all sound and fury signifying nothing as the Bard once said, there are also a wide range of social activists, some with clear objectives, others with fleeting targets, who continue to prove that financial resources, and large legal teams, cannot protect a dodgy brand against the persistant,decentralised, and often cloaked attacks of the geeks.
It's not all viruses and spyware out there.
ecolabelling.org - ecolabels and green certification schemes
ecolabelling.org - ecolabels and green certification schemes
At last a guide to the myriad of labelling that is spewing forth. In theory labelling is suppose to inform the consumer- simple and clear labels like Fairtrade, Soil Association, and No Fly are clear but frankly all the rest just confuses. The most rediculous is the NFU's Red Tractor- what the hell does that mean? Then you have half way houses like LEAF, agriculture raisonable as they call it in french- sort of using as little chemicals as possible but as much as necessary- oh yeah? Who decides what is necessary?
At last a guide to the myriad of labelling that is spewing forth. In theory labelling is suppose to inform the consumer- simple and clear labels like Fairtrade, Soil Association, and No Fly are clear but frankly all the rest just confuses. The most rediculous is the NFU's Red Tractor- what the hell does that mean? Then you have half way houses like LEAF, agriculture raisonable as they call it in french- sort of using as little chemicals as possible but as much as necessary- oh yeah? Who decides what is necessary?
Thursday 31 January 2008
YouTube - She's back! Fairtrade Woman 2008.
YouTube - She's back! Fairtrade Woman 2008.: ""
Is she mad, is she bad- no she's Fairtrade Woman, living on Fairtrade products for a fortnight during the UK's Fairtrade Fortnight. Luckily as every year goes by there are more and more Fairtrade products out there- the Co-operative has the most extensive range, bit short on fresh veg though..watch out for signs of vitamin deficency, luckily there are lots of fruit to stop scurvy setting in.
Is she mad, is she bad- no she's Fairtrade Woman, living on Fairtrade products for a fortnight during the UK's Fairtrade Fortnight. Luckily as every year goes by there are more and more Fairtrade products out there- the Co-operative has the most extensive range, bit short on fresh veg though..watch out for signs of vitamin deficency, luckily there are lots of fruit to stop scurvy setting in.
Wednesday 30 January 2008
ASA bans British Gas ad for green claims | Media | guardian.co.uk
ASA bans British Gas ad for green claims | Media | guardian.co.uk
Yet another Greenwash Alert- when will they ever learn that green marketing- in the words of The Green Marketing Manifesto's author John Grant is "making green things seem normal not normal things seem green". Slapping carbon offsetting on a product does not make that product green, nor does for that matter- take note HSBC- giving £50 to the WWF for every new account enable you to call it a green account. This stype of flimsy thinking is just bandwagon marketing- and in the age of high powered environmental pressure groups- and of course the blogisphere you will get caught, and made to look foolish
Yet another Greenwash Alert- when will they ever learn that green marketing- in the words of The Green Marketing Manifesto's author John Grant is "making green things seem normal not normal things seem green". Slapping carbon offsetting on a product does not make that product green, nor does for that matter- take note HSBC- giving £50 to the WWF for every new account enable you to call it a green account. This stype of flimsy thinking is just bandwagon marketing- and in the age of high powered environmental pressure groups- and of course the blogisphere you will get caught, and made to look foolish
Monday 21 January 2008
Top 10 tips for greener skiing - Natural Choices
Top 10 tips for greener skiing - Natural Choices
We all have our dirty little ungreen secrets, skiing is one of mine, along with the Landrover. Most of the time, when the snow is good we nip up to the Pyrenees, but once in a while, when we are feeling a little flush Les Arcs 2000 is our destination.
We all have our dirty little ungreen secrets, skiing is one of mine, along with the Landrover. Most of the time, when the snow is good we nip up to the Pyrenees, but once in a while, when we are feeling a little flush Les Arcs 2000 is our destination.
Friday 18 January 2008
Wednesday 2 January 2008
72% demand private housing developers should meet green targets - Natural Choices
72% demand private housing developers should meet green targets - Natural Choices
It is scandalous that there are different standards for Housing Associations and the private sector- the argument from the private sector is that the supply chains for sustainable products is limited at the moment and therefore they can’t comply in the short run but that they will try harder in a couple of years time.
I suppose the government’s thinking is that they can impose greener standards on the sector’s they have a more direct funding link over- such as housing associations and the public housing stock- and then as these sectors increase demand then economies of scale in sustainable product manufacturing will kick in and thus encourage the private sector to see the benefits of sustainable building.
Well maybe, the reality is however looking at the proposed building requirements for sustainable homes the majority of the changes are in simple design- like double glazing- and I don’t think there is a shortage of supply there, instillation, efficient boilers, and also things like bike storage, home offices, grey water recycling. All these things can be done by the private sector now without waiting. Micro renewable energy systems, whether it be solar thermal, wood pellet boilers, even PV roofs such as Solar century’s C21 roof need to go in at the construction stage to be most cost effective.
Once again it is a shame that the sectors with the least cash are being called upon to break the path, but then again building sustainable blocks of flats is actually cheaper and makes more sense than sustainable stand alone houses- because of the ability to share heat and power units amongst flats- common grey water capture and usage etc.
George Monbiot (http://www.monbiot.com/archives/2007/11/27/three-million-homes/) argues we need 3 million new homes in the next 12 years. The majority of these unfortunately will not be built by housing associations or the public sector, which is a shame as public housing management is so much more rational than private ownership- and the credit needed to buy homes adds hugely to the stress on individuals. It will be the private sector that will carry out the majority of new house building in the UK and it is for that reason that we need the Sustainable Housing regulations to apply to them today not in some vague sense of the future.
It is scandalous that there are different standards for Housing Associations and the private sector- the argument from the private sector is that the supply chains for sustainable products is limited at the moment and therefore they can’t comply in the short run but that they will try harder in a couple of years time.
I suppose the government’s thinking is that they can impose greener standards on the sector’s they have a more direct funding link over- such as housing associations and the public housing stock- and then as these sectors increase demand then economies of scale in sustainable product manufacturing will kick in and thus encourage the private sector to see the benefits of sustainable building.
Well maybe, the reality is however looking at the proposed building requirements for sustainable homes the majority of the changes are in simple design- like double glazing- and I don’t think there is a shortage of supply there, instillation, efficient boilers, and also things like bike storage, home offices, grey water recycling. All these things can be done by the private sector now without waiting. Micro renewable energy systems, whether it be solar thermal, wood pellet boilers, even PV roofs such as Solar century’s C21 roof need to go in at the construction stage to be most cost effective.
Once again it is a shame that the sectors with the least cash are being called upon to break the path, but then again building sustainable blocks of flats is actually cheaper and makes more sense than sustainable stand alone houses- because of the ability to share heat and power units amongst flats- common grey water capture and usage etc.
George Monbiot (http://www.monbiot.com/archives/2007/11/27/three-million-homes/) argues we need 3 million new homes in the next 12 years. The majority of these unfortunately will not be built by housing associations or the public sector, which is a shame as public housing management is so much more rational than private ownership- and the credit needed to buy homes adds hugely to the stress on individuals. It will be the private sector that will carry out the majority of new house building in the UK and it is for that reason that we need the Sustainable Housing regulations to apply to them today not in some vague sense of the future.
Green PC - Environment Friendly Computer: Greener Computing Tips from Lifehacker
Green PC - Environment Friendly Computer: Greener Computing Tips from Lifehacker
The Green PC blog is definitely one of the best in the business for those of us stuck to our scereens for work- packed with great ideas, from the simple to the most complicated- all written in a 'just do it, its easy' style.
The Green PC blog is definitely one of the best in the business for those of us stuck to our scereens for work- packed with great ideas, from the simple to the most complicated- all written in a 'just do it, its easy' style.
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