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.
Friday 22 February 2008
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?
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