I spent a day last week in the cold and rainy North visiting a numbers of factories involved in the processing of the drinks can. It was a long day, but a great way to see the loop of how a can is made, filled and then recycled, to possibly become a can again.
The first stop was the Novelis recycling plant in Warrington. We saw the huge bales of cans, which were then melted down into a huge vat of molten liquid, that looked like something out of the Lord of the Rings. It was very important that we didn’t touch anything. We then saw how the aluminium was set into huge ingots, which were then transported to Germany by river for rolling.
Next was the Rexam factory, which makes the cans that supply the Coca-Cola Enterprise factory just next door in Wakefield – we actually saw the ‘hole in the wall’ that allows this to happen. The scale of production in both of these factories was immense and it incredible to see the number of cans in production.
All in all, a whistle stop tour, but actually being there made the whole process so much more vivid and easier to comprehend (and the hats and goggles that we had to wear were so attractive!).
Friday, 5 December 2008
Bold and fair
There is no escaping or denying the fact that Britain has now entered a recession.
The newspapers report daily about job cuts and repossessions. And strapped for cash we are spending less, forcing high street stores such as Marks and Spencer and Debenhams to hold regular pre-Christmas sales in order to avoid the fate of stores such as Woolworths and MFI.
I attended the Labour Progress Annual Conference on Saturday where I listened to Ed Miliband MP defend the government’s recent economic decisions announced in the Chancellor’s recent pre-budget report. Bold and fair were the key words of his address:
“New Labour was always about a commitment to boldness and fairness”
“Labour showed once again its ability to be bold, to be fair”
“We have shown a sense of boldness and fairness and told a distinctive New Labour Story about how we can solve the economic problems”
At the state opening of Parliament this week, Gordon Brown made ‘fairness’ the theme of the Queen’s Speech.
We are all aware that the government has made bold decisions with its emergency mini-budget to help the effects of the year-long international financial crisis. They include slashing VAT by 2.5%. However, the jury is still out on how fair these measures are.
“My Government is committed to helping families and businesses through difficult times.” announced the Queen.
But can these bold economic reforms ever be fair for all, families and business alike?
By Danielle Thomas
The newspapers report daily about job cuts and repossessions. And strapped for cash we are spending less, forcing high street stores such as Marks and Spencer and Debenhams to hold regular pre-Christmas sales in order to avoid the fate of stores such as Woolworths and MFI.
I attended the Labour Progress Annual Conference on Saturday where I listened to Ed Miliband MP defend the government’s recent economic decisions announced in the Chancellor’s recent pre-budget report. Bold and fair were the key words of his address:
“New Labour was always about a commitment to boldness and fairness”
“Labour showed once again its ability to be bold, to be fair”
“We have shown a sense of boldness and fairness and told a distinctive New Labour Story about how we can solve the economic problems”
At the state opening of Parliament this week, Gordon Brown made ‘fairness’ the theme of the Queen’s Speech.
We are all aware that the government has made bold decisions with its emergency mini-budget to help the effects of the year-long international financial crisis. They include slashing VAT by 2.5%. However, the jury is still out on how fair these measures are.
“My Government is committed to helping families and businesses through difficult times.” announced the Queen.
But can these bold economic reforms ever be fair for all, families and business alike?
By Danielle Thomas
Wednesday, 19 November 2008
Is PR good for you?
This week I attended an event at the University of Westminster entitled ‘Is PR good for you?’ targeted towards PR professionals and students I was intrigued to attend and see if the outcome of this debate could possibly be negative i.e. conclude that PR is bad for society.
The conclusion of the debate was far from a surprise; the verdict was that PR was indeed good for a society. The persuasive industry is a fundamental instrument of democracy and the right to persuade and influence a democratic right. This is the reason therefore in large democracies such as the US and the UK the PR industry is well established, in emerging markets/transitional countries there is a fascination with PR and in totalitarian states PR is absent.
I concluded on leaving the event that the findings were all very obvious for someone like myself and the other attendees who work in the persuasive industry … so what was the need for this event. Then I reflected I had just been PR –ed. This seminar had been an opportunity to PR, plug, promote, call it what you may the speaker’s new book on the discipline.
So is PR Good for you – yes it is. This event demonstrated the true power of PR…the art of influence and persuasion through increasingly more strategic means which brings your cause, concern or product to the public’s attention … no matter how intelligent they consider themselves to be…
By Danielle Thomas
The conclusion of the debate was far from a surprise; the verdict was that PR was indeed good for a society. The persuasive industry is a fundamental instrument of democracy and the right to persuade and influence a democratic right. This is the reason therefore in large democracies such as the US and the UK the PR industry is well established, in emerging markets/transitional countries there is a fascination with PR and in totalitarian states PR is absent.
I concluded on leaving the event that the findings were all very obvious for someone like myself and the other attendees who work in the persuasive industry … so what was the need for this event. Then I reflected I had just been PR –ed. This seminar had been an opportunity to PR, plug, promote, call it what you may the speaker’s new book on the discipline.
So is PR Good for you – yes it is. This event demonstrated the true power of PR…the art of influence and persuasion through increasingly more strategic means which brings your cause, concern or product to the public’s attention … no matter how intelligent they consider themselves to be…
By Danielle Thomas
Wednesday, 15 October 2008
Blog Action Day - E-marginalised
Today October 15th is Blog Action Day. Bloggers everywhere will unite (from sports blogs and tech blogs, to entertainment and cooking blogs) and publish posts that discuss poverty in some way. So I’ve chosen to raise awareness about an emerging type of poverty - digital exclusion.
Can you imagine life without your computer, blackberry, or iphone? And I’m not talking about just a day or a week, but what if you had never owned a computer, had internet access on your phone or even in your home? However, could you possibly live without this technology now in 2008?
For many of us it’s hard to imagine and life without Facebook, Myspace or even ASOS…however the internet has many more important uses that we take for granted. The internet has become an indispensible tool in looking for jobs online; searching for housing and assisting children in their studies, however 39% are still not online. That’s more than 1,000,000 households with children without the use of the internet.
Some of these people do not use the net out of choice, but the majority are e-marginalised due to poverty.
Digital exclusion is a socio-economic problem and there is a clear link between digital and social exclusion – 75% of people that are socially excluded are also digitally excluded and 64% people living in social housing don’t use the internet. Research has proven that the internet significantly changes the quality of lives. In a project conducted by UK Online Centres shows 97%of families in poverty who were given computers said that their lives had improved after six months.
Connecting people to the internet can connect them to new or better jobs, new forms of social interaction, government services, education, information, consumer power….and much more.
Thankfully, the government has woken up to this as in April we saw Paul Murphy MP, Wales Minister appointed the first ever minister for Digital Inclusion and at Labour Party Conference, Gordon Brown revealed that Ed Balls would announce plans to fund over a million extra families to get online. The Government will publish their first Digital Inclusion Action Plan later this month – hopefully this will be part of the answer to an emerging 21st century problem.
By Danielle Thomas
Can you imagine life without your computer, blackberry, or iphone? And I’m not talking about just a day or a week, but what if you had never owned a computer, had internet access on your phone or even in your home? However, could you possibly live without this technology now in 2008?
For many of us it’s hard to imagine and life without Facebook, Myspace or even ASOS…however the internet has many more important uses that we take for granted. The internet has become an indispensible tool in looking for jobs online; searching for housing and assisting children in their studies, however 39% are still not online. That’s more than 1,000,000 households with children without the use of the internet.
Some of these people do not use the net out of choice, but the majority are e-marginalised due to poverty.
Digital exclusion is a socio-economic problem and there is a clear link between digital and social exclusion – 75% of people that are socially excluded are also digitally excluded and 64% people living in social housing don’t use the internet. Research has proven that the internet significantly changes the quality of lives. In a project conducted by UK Online Centres shows 97%of families in poverty who were given computers said that their lives had improved after six months.
Connecting people to the internet can connect them to new or better jobs, new forms of social interaction, government services, education, information, consumer power….and much more.
Thankfully, the government has woken up to this as in April we saw Paul Murphy MP, Wales Minister appointed the first ever minister for Digital Inclusion and at Labour Party Conference, Gordon Brown revealed that Ed Balls would announce plans to fund over a million extra families to get online. The Government will publish their first Digital Inclusion Action Plan later this month – hopefully this will be part of the answer to an emerging 21st century problem.
By Danielle Thomas
Thursday, 9 October 2008
Down and dirty state side
We are always being told how closely linked we are to the USA. ‘The special relationship’ is interpreted by some as evidence of all the things we have in common with Uncle Sam. First and foremost we have our history – two World Wars to be precise. And then of course we are speaking the same language - literally. We love sports (albeit different ones), they love our TV and we love theirs and we are both partial to a helping of burger and fries.
At first glance our political systems also appear closely linked. Both are two-party states, one party sitting just to the left and one on the right. However, once politicians either side of the Atlantic hit the campaign trail we tend to go our separate ways. Labour and the Conservatives entire general election budget would be hard pushed to fund two or three weeks of ‘Obama for President’. And in the States when the chips are down the gloves will come off and both candidates will clamber down into the gutter and slug it out. And that is exactly where we find ourselves now as the US Presidential campaign turns for home and heads down the final straight.
McCain being the one who is slipping behind in the polls has now given up all pretence of wanting to talk about the issues. He has worked out that the American people do not trust him with the economy and are increasingly questioning his judgement. Plan B for team McCain/Palin is to label Obama a friend of terrorists, an aid to paedophiles and a liar. And they are just getting warmed up.
However let us not get too ‘holier then thou’ about Obama. A number of blows have been levelled against McCain that would be hard pushed to be stood up in a school debate, let alone in a national political campaign in the UK. And if Obama was to suddenly find himself behind with a week to go he would come under intense pressure to get down and dirty as well. Whether you like this approach or not is down to the individual. What cannot be disputed is that if you like your politics to be more personal than political, head West. Because thankfully, unlike most things American, we have proved resistant to ‘gutter politics’. And long may that continue.
By Harry Watkinson
At first glance our political systems also appear closely linked. Both are two-party states, one party sitting just to the left and one on the right. However, once politicians either side of the Atlantic hit the campaign trail we tend to go our separate ways. Labour and the Conservatives entire general election budget would be hard pushed to fund two or three weeks of ‘Obama for President’. And in the States when the chips are down the gloves will come off and both candidates will clamber down into the gutter and slug it out. And that is exactly where we find ourselves now as the US Presidential campaign turns for home and heads down the final straight.
McCain being the one who is slipping behind in the polls has now given up all pretence of wanting to talk about the issues. He has worked out that the American people do not trust him with the economy and are increasingly questioning his judgement. Plan B for team McCain/Palin is to label Obama a friend of terrorists, an aid to paedophiles and a liar. And they are just getting warmed up.
However let us not get too ‘holier then thou’ about Obama. A number of blows have been levelled against McCain that would be hard pushed to be stood up in a school debate, let alone in a national political campaign in the UK. And if Obama was to suddenly find himself behind with a week to go he would come under intense pressure to get down and dirty as well. Whether you like this approach or not is down to the individual. What cannot be disputed is that if you like your politics to be more personal than political, head West. Because thankfully, unlike most things American, we have proved resistant to ‘gutter politics’. And long may that continue.
By Harry Watkinson
London 2012 - The 'cosy' games
This week I attended the first Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee after the Summer recess. As part of the committee’s ongoing inquiry into the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympics Games, they called upon Boris Johnson, Mayor of London and Lord Moynihan, Chairman of The British Olympic Association to give oral evidence. The session focused on preparations for the 2012 Games, lessons from the Beijing 2008 and elite sporting performance.
As I predicted, the cost of the London 2012 Olympic Games was a pertinent issue for the committee, especially in light of the current economic climate. In his manifesto, Boris Johnson highlighted the importance of cost control in the planning of the Games; in return the committee asked him if he still believed the cost of the Games could be contained. Boris was adamant that no further money was needed from the taxpayer and he was reluctant to see early spending of the contingency funds. Mr Johnson stressed that 25% of the budget had been spent, while only 2% of the contingency had been used.
The budget for the London 2012 Games is almost half of that of this year’s Olympics in Beijing, so Philip Davies MP rightly asked Boris how we avoid the London Games being considered as a ‘poor man’s Beijing’ and how we compete on a lower budget. Boris answered that we should not expect a carbon copy of the Beijing Games, according to him the London Games would be a more “cosier” affair with a greater sense of intimacy.
As the athletic stadium in Stratford is set to hold 80,000 people only 11,000 less than the Bird’s Nest Stadium in Beijing, I’m not yet convinced how intimate the London 2012 Olympics Games can really be.
By Danielle Thomas
As I predicted, the cost of the London 2012 Olympic Games was a pertinent issue for the committee, especially in light of the current economic climate. In his manifesto, Boris Johnson highlighted the importance of cost control in the planning of the Games; in return the committee asked him if he still believed the cost of the Games could be contained. Boris was adamant that no further money was needed from the taxpayer and he was reluctant to see early spending of the contingency funds. Mr Johnson stressed that 25% of the budget had been spent, while only 2% of the contingency had been used.
The budget for the London 2012 Games is almost half of that of this year’s Olympics in Beijing, so Philip Davies MP rightly asked Boris how we avoid the London Games being considered as a ‘poor man’s Beijing’ and how we compete on a lower budget. Boris answered that we should not expect a carbon copy of the Beijing Games, according to him the London Games would be a more “cosier” affair with a greater sense of intimacy.
As the athletic stadium in Stratford is set to hold 80,000 people only 11,000 less than the Bird’s Nest Stadium in Beijing, I’m not yet convinced how intimate the London 2012 Olympics Games can really be.
By Danielle Thomas
Friday, 3 October 2008
New Energy and Climate Change Department
So the reshuffle has happened, and there is a new Energy and Climate Change Department, with Ed Miliband as the new Secretary of State, illustrating the importance of climate change now within the Cabinet. The new department has been set up due to power struggles between BERR and DEFRA – hopefully the new department will allow remove the difficulties of conflicting priorities, and allow change to happen.
The new department is going down well with the key green NGOs, and they seem to have high hopes of what is can achieve.
Greenpeace Executive Director John Sauven said: ‘For the last ten years this government has dithered on climate change, offering us inspiring rhetoric but little in the way of real action. Bringing energy and climate together at last reflects the urgency of the threat we face from climate change.’
Director of Campaigns at WWF-UK David Norman, said: 'It shows a clear recognition that the UK's chances of hitting its climate targets are inextricably linked to its energy policies.'
Friends of the Earth Executive Director Andy Atkins said: "The creation of a single department to oversee climate and energy policy is a big step forward. This is a golden opportunity to integrate the UK’s climate and energy policies – something which has been so obviously lacking in the past. We hope to see this new department, with a dynamic Secretary of State at the helm, lift our energy policy out of the dark ages to meet the challenges of the twenty first century.
So it looks like Brown may have increased his popularity with the green voters, but we will wait and see what policy changes happen as this new department progresses.
The new department is going down well with the key green NGOs, and they seem to have high hopes of what is can achieve.
Greenpeace Executive Director John Sauven said: ‘For the last ten years this government has dithered on climate change, offering us inspiring rhetoric but little in the way of real action. Bringing energy and climate together at last reflects the urgency of the threat we face from climate change.’
Director of Campaigns at WWF-UK David Norman, said: 'It shows a clear recognition that the UK's chances of hitting its climate targets are inextricably linked to its energy policies.'
Friends of the Earth Executive Director Andy Atkins said: "The creation of a single department to oversee climate and energy policy is a big step forward. This is a golden opportunity to integrate the UK’s climate and energy policies – something which has been so obviously lacking in the past. We hope to see this new department, with a dynamic Secretary of State at the helm, lift our energy policy out of the dark ages to meet the challenges of the twenty first century.
So it looks like Brown may have increased his popularity with the green voters, but we will wait and see what policy changes happen as this new department progresses.
Cam the man with the plan
“I am man with a plan” appears most quoted line from David Cameron’s address to the Conservative Party at their conference on Wednesday.
Cameron has made it no secret that he plans to ‘Fix Britain’s broken society’ should he become PM, but yesterday he promised to be as radical in social reform as Thatcher was in economical reform.
In fact this was only one in a series of comments he made which evoked a Thatcherite spirit at the Conservative Party Conference in Birmingham.
Although I went to school in the generation of ‘Thatcher the milk snatcher’, I can still see how the comparison he has made between himself and the former first lady might entice voters. In his attempt to tackle Labour’s claim that he was a “novice” Cameron told his party that “Experience was the excuse of the incumbent down the ages”.
He spoke of James Callaghan, PM in 1979 who like our own PM had gained plenty of experience in various cabinet positions as home secretary, foreign secretary and chancellor, however was ‘swapped’ by Margaret Thatcher to the delight of many.
So is Cameron right? Does experience suggest you are implicated in the system that failed? If so, is a change of leadership is what we really need?
By Danielle Thomas
Cameron has made it no secret that he plans to ‘Fix Britain’s broken society’ should he become PM, but yesterday he promised to be as radical in social reform as Thatcher was in economical reform.
In fact this was only one in a series of comments he made which evoked a Thatcherite spirit at the Conservative Party Conference in Birmingham.
Although I went to school in the generation of ‘Thatcher the milk snatcher’, I can still see how the comparison he has made between himself and the former first lady might entice voters. In his attempt to tackle Labour’s claim that he was a “novice” Cameron told his party that “Experience was the excuse of the incumbent down the ages”.
He spoke of James Callaghan, PM in 1979 who like our own PM had gained plenty of experience in various cabinet positions as home secretary, foreign secretary and chancellor, however was ‘swapped’ by Margaret Thatcher to the delight of many.
So is Cameron right? Does experience suggest you are implicated in the system that failed? If so, is a change of leadership is what we really need?
By Danielle Thomas
Tuesday, 30 September 2008
Still knocking
Cameron struck a sombre note at conference today in a speech designed to suggest he, novice or not, is the prime minister in waiting. Promising to work with the government, Cameron committed the Conservatives to collaborations now and recriminations later.
Sombe and considered, it was a good performance with a promise of explanation and an offer of solutions in his speech tomorrow.
The party faithful loved it, but we'll have to wait and see if this talk of political togetherness will really happen.
By Claire Levens
Sombe and considered, it was a good performance with a promise of explanation and an offer of solutions in his speech tomorrow.
The party faithful loved it, but we'll have to wait and see if this talk of political togetherness will really happen.
By Claire Levens
Monday, 29 September 2008
Paralysed or Smug - which are you?
Birmingham: Sunday night: Just finished my first environmental fringe at Conservative Conference. Like Labour last week, the fringe agenda is dominated by environmental debates. I’ve just been exploring how to create 2020 carbon citizens.
I was reminded of some research that we did about a year ago, which found that consumers were so confused about what it means to live a green lifestyle they took one of two options. Some were paralysed by the confusion, infused with a gloomy fatalism that all is for nothing in the face of impending doom. The second response, equally unhelpful was a misplaced smugness, engendered by the warm glow of a regular recycler, who believes that through recycling all personal environmental responsibilities have been discharged.
I asked the panel how they would solve this problem, created through a morass of messaging. The most interesting answer was that given by Nick Hurd MP exercising his Chairman’s prerogative to answer the question. Nick highlighted a local initiative, funded and promoted by Kirklees council, which cuts through the clutter. Like every other battle of hearts and minds, creating carbon citizens will only result from a personalised invitation. This means a street by street, door to door campaign, providing localised, tailored independent advice about everything from recycling to insulation.
Undoubtedly expensive and utterly time consuming. But, perhaps it is the best use of time any money on the planet.
By Claire Levens
I was reminded of some research that we did about a year ago, which found that consumers were so confused about what it means to live a green lifestyle they took one of two options. Some were paralysed by the confusion, infused with a gloomy fatalism that all is for nothing in the face of impending doom. The second response, equally unhelpful was a misplaced smugness, engendered by the warm glow of a regular recycler, who believes that through recycling all personal environmental responsibilities have been discharged.
I asked the panel how they would solve this problem, created through a morass of messaging. The most interesting answer was that given by Nick Hurd MP exercising his Chairman’s prerogative to answer the question. Nick highlighted a local initiative, funded and promoted by Kirklees council, which cuts through the clutter. Like every other battle of hearts and minds, creating carbon citizens will only result from a personalised invitation. This means a street by street, door to door campaign, providing localised, tailored independent advice about everything from recycling to insulation.
Undoubtedly expensive and utterly time consuming. But, perhaps it is the best use of time any money on the planet.
By Claire Levens
Thursday, 25 September 2008
Political Top Trumps
This morning my colleagues returned to the office tanked up with stories of their adventures at the Labour Party Conference in Manchester. Sifting through their goodie bags full of promotional leaflets and useful contact details they showed me their most prized freebie; a set of Political Top Trumps. A special edition of the traditional card game Top Trumps, where each card represented some of the UK’s most influential politicians from the Gordon Brown, to David Miliband and Mayor of London Boris Johnson and contained data on marginality, expenses and value of memoirs.
The cards provoked some excitement amongst our team and we can’t wait until we get some free time to play them. However, I started to think in only a week’s time the information on these cards would become out of date as Gordon Brown is set to announce the reshuffle of his cabinet.
In his attempt to regain political momentum it is obvious that Gordon will have to make some significant changes. So who will become Gordon’s new top trumps?
Will Jacqui Smith remain as Home Secretary? Who will replace Ruth Kelly as she has now stepped down from her position as Transport Secretary?
It is speculated that rising stars Caroline Flint, Liam Byrne and Jim Murphy will move up the ranks while Des Browne and Geof Hoon may have their cards marked.
But the most pertinent move will be that of Foreign Secretary David Miliband. Will Brown keep his enemies close and promote Miliband or demote him even though he claims he is not a threat?
When the reshuffle is announced I believe the media will be most occupied with Miliband’s fate, however is hard to predict his new position in the cabinet as many like myself are not quite sure about the status of the relationship between Miliband and Brown.
We’ll have to keep our eyes peeled…
By Danielle Thomas
The cards provoked some excitement amongst our team and we can’t wait until we get some free time to play them. However, I started to think in only a week’s time the information on these cards would become out of date as Gordon Brown is set to announce the reshuffle of his cabinet.
In his attempt to regain political momentum it is obvious that Gordon will have to make some significant changes. So who will become Gordon’s new top trumps?
Will Jacqui Smith remain as Home Secretary? Who will replace Ruth Kelly as she has now stepped down from her position as Transport Secretary?
It is speculated that rising stars Caroline Flint, Liam Byrne and Jim Murphy will move up the ranks while Des Browne and Geof Hoon may have their cards marked.
But the most pertinent move will be that of Foreign Secretary David Miliband. Will Brown keep his enemies close and promote Miliband or demote him even though he claims he is not a threat?
When the reshuffle is announced I believe the media will be most occupied with Miliband’s fate, however is hard to predict his new position in the cabinet as many like myself are not quite sure about the status of the relationship between Miliband and Brown.
We’ll have to keep our eyes peeled…
By Danielle Thomas
Tuesday, 23 September 2008
All about me
Vintage Brown. Here in Manchester Gordon has said loud and clear that ‘I know who I am and what I am about.’ Just for good measure he also laid out his vision to save the entire world from the global financial system and to care for the nations sick, poor and the elderly. Utterly a conviction politician, his Christian values blazing, Brown’s fight back begins right here, right now.
Perhaps his best sound bite “no time for a novice” was directed at both Davids, Cameron and Miliband. Initial reactions appear to give a thumbs-up for the PM. However, if he wants to see in the spring at Number 10 his actions will still need to speak much louder than his words here today. But at least it is a start.
By Claire Levens
Perhaps his best sound bite “no time for a novice” was directed at both Davids, Cameron and Miliband. Initial reactions appear to give a thumbs-up for the PM. However, if he wants to see in the spring at Number 10 his actions will still need to speak much louder than his words here today. But at least it is a start.
By Claire Levens
Gordon: Glory or Gonner?
So, it's the night before the big speech, but if the press are to be believed, Gordon's speech was written months ago and nothing is going to change it. Funny then, to bump into a senior Minister in the bar tonight, who was on the hunt for one of the speech-writing team.... Seems that some third party endorsement had been recieved from a certain South African former elder-statesman, and the writing team were keen to include it.
So, if the speech contains reference to what the UK has done for Africa under a Labour administration we know it was subbed tonight. If not, well, maybe they just missed eachother in the madness of the Malvern bar...
Gordon knows he has a lot to do tomorrow - he needs to impress the party faithful, bruised and battered as they are by the recent events; needs to reassure the parliamentary party that their seats are safe with him. More than that, he needs to convince the cynical media that he has what it takes...and that is a challenge.
I hope he's sleeping well tonight, because tomorrow he earns the right to stay in the job, or start packing... lets see what the media judgement is....
By Claire Levens
So, if the speech contains reference to what the UK has done for Africa under a Labour administration we know it was subbed tonight. If not, well, maybe they just missed eachother in the madness of the Malvern bar...
Gordon knows he has a lot to do tomorrow - he needs to impress the party faithful, bruised and battered as they are by the recent events; needs to reassure the parliamentary party that their seats are safe with him. More than that, he needs to convince the cynical media that he has what it takes...and that is a challenge.
I hope he's sleeping well tonight, because tomorrow he earns the right to stay in the job, or start packing... lets see what the media judgement is....
By Claire Levens
Monday, 22 September 2008
Saints and Sinners?
Saints and Sinners? I really understand the need for certainty, it makes life easy, especially as it permits me to define myself in relationship to you - we are either the same or we are different. On a personal level, it's the way humanity has defined itself for all eternity. On a political level, it's short-sighted, damaging and fundamentally unhelpful.
I've been to two fringe meetings today, one on lottery funding and one on water foot printing. Some of the speakers, and many of the attendees were very quick to define charity and or not for profit as universally good, and anything, and possibly anyone connected with a corporation, or with profit -making as utterly bad. I wonder where this mindset comes from. When did some advocates of the NGO sector, get to determine the organisational morality, and translate that into personal morality.
It would be far more helpful for all parts of society if we each recognised that, even in the current economic climate, profit is the engine of money, that agent of change. Money may change situations for good or for ill. And granted, not all companies are responsible. However most people professionally engaged in the begetting of profit do not do so at the expense of all their principles and scruples. Likewise those engaged in advocacy and campaigning do not have the monopoly on appropriate / right responses.
Perhaps we can agree on this, at least. The social and economic issues we face, as a nation and as a planet will require our best thinking and best policymaking to manage, let alone solve. It's just possible that some solutions might be found from with the business community, and delivered by the NGO community. Perpetuating the myth that profit and business is entirely beyond redemption, and charity above scrutiny, may be comforting in it's clarity. Shame then that clarity alone, especially when mis-guided will hinder rather than help solve the big issues we face as a nation.
By Claire Levens
I've been to two fringe meetings today, one on lottery funding and one on water foot printing. Some of the speakers, and many of the attendees were very quick to define charity and or not for profit as universally good, and anything, and possibly anyone connected with a corporation, or with profit -making as utterly bad. I wonder where this mindset comes from. When did some advocates of the NGO sector, get to determine the organisational morality, and translate that into personal morality.
It would be far more helpful for all parts of society if we each recognised that, even in the current economic climate, profit is the engine of money, that agent of change. Money may change situations for good or for ill. And granted, not all companies are responsible. However most people professionally engaged in the begetting of profit do not do so at the expense of all their principles and scruples. Likewise those engaged in advocacy and campaigning do not have the monopoly on appropriate / right responses.
Perhaps we can agree on this, at least. The social and economic issues we face, as a nation and as a planet will require our best thinking and best policymaking to manage, let alone solve. It's just possible that some solutions might be found from with the business community, and delivered by the NGO community. Perpetuating the myth that profit and business is entirely beyond redemption, and charity above scrutiny, may be comforting in it's clarity. Shame then that clarity alone, especially when mis-guided will hinder rather than help solve the big issues we face as a nation.
By Claire Levens
Party On
So the political circus has rumbled into Manchester this week. Everyone's here already, and it's only Sunday afternoon. The mood is good too, perhaps the sunshine has something to do with it, or perhaps it's very early in the week... but the coppers are in a good mood, and I've only been told off for going the wrong way twice in four hours! And, none of the food at the lunchtime fringe was deep-fried! Things are looking up.
More importantly, if the quality of the first fringe meeting I went to is anything to go by, we're in for a good conference. The Big Lottery Fund are about to consult on spending priorities for 2009 - 2015. They have some tough questions to think through, covering issues as diverse as whether they should fund the people in most need, or fund a geographical spread of projects throughout the land... Go on, think about it, to me they should fund the people most in need, but then who determines need, and on what basis. Add to this the reality that lottery tickets are disproportionately bought by the poor, but the lottery funding doesn't always reach those areas, and you get into some interesting political turf.
We have a client interest in sports funding, which, because of London 2012, is receiving significant amounts of lottery money at the expense of other arts and community projects. It was a contentious decision, but in my judgement the right one. But, here's the rub, as the glow fades on the British success as BOTH sets of Games this year the real funding challenge for sport, good causes and the arts, is how to secure long-term funding beyond 2012. Failure to do so, will make a mockery of the legacy promise and undermine all the sacrifices the arts community is making now.
We'll be making these, and other points to policymakers throughout the week.
Ahhhhh, Labour conference, where else would you want to be.....?
By Claire Levens
More importantly, if the quality of the first fringe meeting I went to is anything to go by, we're in for a good conference. The Big Lottery Fund are about to consult on spending priorities for 2009 - 2015. They have some tough questions to think through, covering issues as diverse as whether they should fund the people in most need, or fund a geographical spread of projects throughout the land... Go on, think about it, to me they should fund the people most in need, but then who determines need, and on what basis. Add to this the reality that lottery tickets are disproportionately bought by the poor, but the lottery funding doesn't always reach those areas, and you get into some interesting political turf.
We have a client interest in sports funding, which, because of London 2012, is receiving significant amounts of lottery money at the expense of other arts and community projects. It was a contentious decision, but in my judgement the right one. But, here's the rub, as the glow fades on the British success as BOTH sets of Games this year the real funding challenge for sport, good causes and the arts, is how to secure long-term funding beyond 2012. Failure to do so, will make a mockery of the legacy promise and undermine all the sacrifices the arts community is making now.
We'll be making these, and other points to policymakers throughout the week.
Ahhhhh, Labour conference, where else would you want to be.....?
By Claire Levens
Friday, 19 September 2008
Team Paralympic GB outperform Olympic counterparts
Paralympic athletes returned home on the 17th September from the 2008 Paralympic Games in Beijing, a month after the close of the Olympic Games.
Team Paralympic GB outstripped expectations in Beijing as they flew home with twice as many medals as their Olympic counterparts, 102 in total placing them second in the leader board for the third Paralympic Games in succession. Team Paralympic GB was behind host nation China and ahead of the USA and Australia.
With four gold medals and one silver, cyclist Darren Kenny was Britain’s most successful individual competitor, while swimmer David Roberts took his overall Paralympic medal haul to 11 with four golds in the Water Cube, and Lee Pearson won three more equestrian golds to take his personal tally to nine.
In my opinion, the Paralympic Games were very reminiscent of the Olympic Games in August. Team Paralympic GB rode to their victory collecting 12 out a possible 16 medals for cycling and excelled in the rowing and equestrian events, rather like their Olympian colleagues.
Furthermore, London Mayor Boris Johnson received the Paralympic flag in the closing ceremony at the Bird’s Nest stadium where we witnessed the reappearance of the red bus which was previously criticised by Chinese in closing ceremony of the Olympic Games.
The Paralympians will join the heroes parade in Central London on 16 October 2008, announced by Mayor Boris Johnson last month.
Boris Johnson was delighted with the performance;
“They have delivered for us – now we must deliver for them, and for all disabled Londoners and visitors. Our team have tremendous heart and ability. It is up to us to provide the infrastructure so that they can excel. I have no doubt we will.”
Both Olympic and Paralympic athletes have set the bar very high for the 2012 Olympic Games in London.
By Danielle
Team Paralympic GB outstripped expectations in Beijing as they flew home with twice as many medals as their Olympic counterparts, 102 in total placing them second in the leader board for the third Paralympic Games in succession. Team Paralympic GB was behind host nation China and ahead of the USA and Australia.
With four gold medals and one silver, cyclist Darren Kenny was Britain’s most successful individual competitor, while swimmer David Roberts took his overall Paralympic medal haul to 11 with four golds in the Water Cube, and Lee Pearson won three more equestrian golds to take his personal tally to nine.
In my opinion, the Paralympic Games were very reminiscent of the Olympic Games in August. Team Paralympic GB rode to their victory collecting 12 out a possible 16 medals for cycling and excelled in the rowing and equestrian events, rather like their Olympian colleagues.
Furthermore, London Mayor Boris Johnson received the Paralympic flag in the closing ceremony at the Bird’s Nest stadium where we witnessed the reappearance of the red bus which was previously criticised by Chinese in closing ceremony of the Olympic Games.
The Paralympians will join the heroes parade in Central London on 16 October 2008, announced by Mayor Boris Johnson last month.
Boris Johnson was delighted with the performance;
“They have delivered for us – now we must deliver for them, and for all disabled Londoners and visitors. Our team have tremendous heart and ability. It is up to us to provide the infrastructure so that they can excel. I have no doubt we will.”
Both Olympic and Paralympic athletes have set the bar very high for the 2012 Olympic Games in London.
By Danielle
Friday, 12 September 2008
The end of the World as we know it
So I will start off by stating the obvious (as has been stated in dozens of newspapers over the last few days) – it obviously was not the end of the world on the 10th September.
That was the day when at 9.30 am local time, 300 feet below ground near Geneva, the most powerful particle accelerator ever built became operational, the Large Hadron Collider (LHC).
Concerns were expressed - in particular by the German chemist Professor Otto Rossler - that black holes created by the LHC will grow uncontrollably and "eat the planet from the inside".
These claims were dismissed by Prof Stephen Hawking of Cambridge University who said that the LHC is "feeble compared with what goes on in the universe. If a disaster was going to happen, it would have happened already."
Either way, these worries about the end of the universe seem to be pounced on as a newsworthy hook, but whatever the headline, I think it is great that a science story has been such a big part of the news coverage over the last week.
The £5 billion machine has been described as a 17-mile racetrack around which two streams of protons - building blocks of matter - run in opposite directions before smashing into one another. The protons will reach 99.99% of the speed of light. At the current time, sub atomic particles have just been fired around the tunnel, the first collisions are expected in a month.
I think the machine is absolutely amazing, and really hope that it will actually help to answer some of those remaining mysteries of the universe. Physicists hope to learn more about the origins of mass by learning about the Higgs boson — known as the “God particle” because it is thought to lend mass to matter. The LHC should also answer difficult questions about gravity and dark matter - the "glue" thought to hold the universe together.
I wonder what will happen if we do actually find the answer to all these questions though….
That was the day when at 9.30 am local time, 300 feet below ground near Geneva, the most powerful particle accelerator ever built became operational, the Large Hadron Collider (LHC).
Concerns were expressed - in particular by the German chemist Professor Otto Rossler - that black holes created by the LHC will grow uncontrollably and "eat the planet from the inside".
These claims were dismissed by Prof Stephen Hawking of Cambridge University who said that the LHC is "feeble compared with what goes on in the universe. If a disaster was going to happen, it would have happened already."
Either way, these worries about the end of the universe seem to be pounced on as a newsworthy hook, but whatever the headline, I think it is great that a science story has been such a big part of the news coverage over the last week.
The £5 billion machine has been described as a 17-mile racetrack around which two streams of protons - building blocks of matter - run in opposite directions before smashing into one another. The protons will reach 99.99% of the speed of light. At the current time, sub atomic particles have just been fired around the tunnel, the first collisions are expected in a month.
I think the machine is absolutely amazing, and really hope that it will actually help to answer some of those remaining mysteries of the universe. Physicists hope to learn more about the origins of mass by learning about the Higgs boson — known as the “God particle” because it is thought to lend mass to matter. The LHC should also answer difficult questions about gravity and dark matter - the "glue" thought to hold the universe together.
I wonder what will happen if we do actually find the answer to all these questions though….
Wednesday, 3 September 2008
Sweat in the City
Catching my breath after running for the train home last night, I started to read one of the free London papers and came across an article about a new campaign to get young women like myself fitter, happier and healthier.
Sweat in the City is a new campaign launched by the Women’s Sport and Fitness Foundation (WSFF) and Fitness Industry Association (FIA) which offers 3,000 young women in London free 12-week gym membership. The scheme is an excellent start to fulfilling the promises of the London 2012 Olympic Legacy which aims to increase nationwide participation in sport.
I’ve been meaning to sign up at my local gym however was deterred by the £43/month fees, so I couldn’t wait to get on line and sign myself up for some freeness. After visiting the Sweat in the City website I became even more excited as I discovered there were no strings attached to this scheme.
As long as you are aged 16 – 24, live in one of the 33 London boroughs, do little or no exercise and not currently a member of a gym – you are eligible for 12-weeks free gym membership worth £180, fortnightly group sessions and exercise tips and advice. All you have to give in return is weekly online feedback on the scheme and commitment to attending the gym at least 3 times a week.
So I have jumped on boarded, registered and selected my three choices for preferred gym club. All I have to do is wait for an email to confirm there are still places available and all being well I will commence my fitter, happier and healthier life on 29 September 2008 – I’ll keep you all updated on my progress.
By Danielle Thomas
Sweat in the City is a new campaign launched by the Women’s Sport and Fitness Foundation (WSFF) and Fitness Industry Association (FIA) which offers 3,000 young women in London free 12-week gym membership. The scheme is an excellent start to fulfilling the promises of the London 2012 Olympic Legacy which aims to increase nationwide participation in sport.
I’ve been meaning to sign up at my local gym however was deterred by the £43/month fees, so I couldn’t wait to get on line and sign myself up for some freeness. After visiting the Sweat in the City website I became even more excited as I discovered there were no strings attached to this scheme.
As long as you are aged 16 – 24, live in one of the 33 London boroughs, do little or no exercise and not currently a member of a gym – you are eligible for 12-weeks free gym membership worth £180, fortnightly group sessions and exercise tips and advice. All you have to give in return is weekly online feedback on the scheme and commitment to attending the gym at least 3 times a week.
So I have jumped on boarded, registered and selected my three choices for preferred gym club. All I have to do is wait for an email to confirm there are still places available and all being well I will commence my fitter, happier and healthier life on 29 September 2008 – I’ll keep you all updated on my progress.
By Danielle Thomas
Wednesday, 20 August 2008
Waste Reduction Report
The Science and Technology Committee has published a Waste Reduction report today (20th Aug), which calls for efforts on waste reduction to be extended from individuals to reducing the high waste levels of companies. The report explains that that domestic waste is only 9% of Britain's total waste. Of the remainder, 32 per cent comes from demolition and construction, 30 per cent from mining and quarrying, 13 per cent from industry and 11 per cent from the commercial sector.
Joan Ruddock, Waste Minister, said it was wrong to suggest that the Government had focused disproportionately on domestic waste explaining that the landfill tax escalator specifically targets business and commerce as high waste producers.
Nevertheless, there were some particular focus areas within the report, which I thought made a lot of sense.
The report recommended that Government restructure local authority waste targets and costs which currently focus on decreasing the weight of domestic waste sent to landfill and allow them to address commercial and industrial waste by providing support and disposal facilities to businesses. There was disappointment that funding had been reduced to some of the main environmental support bodies that help both large and small businesses reduce their waste, such as Envirowise, NISP and WRAP. The report also said that the Government should be giving a higher priority to the collection of data for non-domestic waste streams.
Another interesting recommendation in the report was that VAT should be reduced or removed from the cost of repairing televisions, vacuum cleaners and fridges to discourage people from throwing them away as soon as they stop working. This does make sense because at the moment, electronic appliances are getting cheaper and labour more expensive, so it is just not worth getting things repaired. Instead, more and more appliances are being dumped into landfill and replaced by newer designs.
According to the Times Online, repairing a vacuum cleaner costs at least £50, roughly the same price as a new model. Repairs for televisions, computers and cameras are often more than £100 and fewer people now take out warranties to guard against breakdown.
The Lords committee recognises that it may not be in manufacturers' interests to build longer-lasting goods, and suggest an incentive to make sustainable goods more economically valuable. The committee argues that variable VAT should be introduced so that goods that use sustainable materials and fewer virgin resources have reduced VAT or none at all. It recommends that DEFRA work with the Treasury to implement this initiative.
I will be interested to see what happens next as a result of this report.
Joan Ruddock, Waste Minister, said it was wrong to suggest that the Government had focused disproportionately on domestic waste explaining that the landfill tax escalator specifically targets business and commerce as high waste producers.
Nevertheless, there were some particular focus areas within the report, which I thought made a lot of sense.
The report recommended that Government restructure local authority waste targets and costs which currently focus on decreasing the weight of domestic waste sent to landfill and allow them to address commercial and industrial waste by providing support and disposal facilities to businesses. There was disappointment that funding had been reduced to some of the main environmental support bodies that help both large and small businesses reduce their waste, such as Envirowise, NISP and WRAP. The report also said that the Government should be giving a higher priority to the collection of data for non-domestic waste streams.
Another interesting recommendation in the report was that VAT should be reduced or removed from the cost of repairing televisions, vacuum cleaners and fridges to discourage people from throwing them away as soon as they stop working. This does make sense because at the moment, electronic appliances are getting cheaper and labour more expensive, so it is just not worth getting things repaired. Instead, more and more appliances are being dumped into landfill and replaced by newer designs.
According to the Times Online, repairing a vacuum cleaner costs at least £50, roughly the same price as a new model. Repairs for televisions, computers and cameras are often more than £100 and fewer people now take out warranties to guard against breakdown.
The Lords committee recognises that it may not be in manufacturers' interests to build longer-lasting goods, and suggest an incentive to make sustainable goods more economically valuable. The committee argues that variable VAT should be introduced so that goods that use sustainable materials and fewer virgin resources have reduced VAT or none at all. It recommends that DEFRA work with the Treasury to implement this initiative.
I will be interested to see what happens next as a result of this report.
Tuesday, 19 August 2008
Cycling Britain’s new national sport?
It’s day 11 of the Olympic Games in Beijing and who would have predicted that cycling would dominate the agenda, with Team GB picking up no less than 19 medals in cycling events both in the velodrome and on the road.
Victoria Pendleton and Chris Hoy have got us hooked on watching a new type of sprint – one on two wheels rather than running spikes.
Forget football and cricket –we should adopt cycling as our new national sport!
It’s something we are actually good at and with the opening of a new £4.5million state of the art Redbridge Cycling Centre today this sport looks set to grow. The Cycling Centre, opened by London Mayor Boris Johnson and Kate Hoey MP, is in the first London borough to benefit from the legacy of the 2012 games, and will be used by the community until the London 2012 Olympic Games when it will become the Olympic Velo Park.
Team GB currently (14.30 GMT) has a total of 32 medals under their belt, the majority gained over the weekend with astounding successes in swimming, rowing, sailing and cycling.
This is a tremendous sporting victory for Great Britain and has been recognised by Mayor Johnson who has announced a heroes parade around London for the Olympians and Paraolympians on 16 October 2008.
However, so far few medals have been gained in athletics. But I am sure this will soon change. As spectators at the Birds Nest Stadium are yet to see great British athletes such 400m champion Christine Ohuruogu, long jumper Jade Johnson, and triple jumper Phillips Idowu compete in the finals of their respective events.
…Go Team GB!!
By Danielle Thomas
Victoria Pendleton and Chris Hoy have got us hooked on watching a new type of sprint – one on two wheels rather than running spikes.
Forget football and cricket –we should adopt cycling as our new national sport!
It’s something we are actually good at and with the opening of a new £4.5million state of the art Redbridge Cycling Centre today this sport looks set to grow. The Cycling Centre, opened by London Mayor Boris Johnson and Kate Hoey MP, is in the first London borough to benefit from the legacy of the 2012 games, and will be used by the community until the London 2012 Olympic Games when it will become the Olympic Velo Park.
Team GB currently (14.30 GMT) has a total of 32 medals under their belt, the majority gained over the weekend with astounding successes in swimming, rowing, sailing and cycling.
This is a tremendous sporting victory for Great Britain and has been recognised by Mayor Johnson who has announced a heroes parade around London for the Olympians and Paraolympians on 16 October 2008.
However, so far few medals have been gained in athletics. But I am sure this will soon change. As spectators at the Birds Nest Stadium are yet to see great British athletes such 400m champion Christine Ohuruogu, long jumper Jade Johnson, and triple jumper Phillips Idowu compete in the finals of their respective events.
…Go Team GB!!
By Danielle Thomas
Tuesday, 12 August 2008
50 years of Keep Britain Tidy
Yesterday, 11th August 2008, marked the fiftieth anniversary of the Keep Britain Tidy campaign. In 1954, Lady Elisabeth Brunner addressed the AGM of the National Federation of Women’s Institutes about the growing problem of litter in public places. Four years later, in August 1958, the Litter Act was passed due to the pressure from the Keep Britain Tidy Group founded by Lady Brunner and her WI supporters. Under the Act, despoiling the environment with rubbish was made a criminal offence.
However, fifty years on Lady Brunner may well be turning in her grave as it seems that Britain still needs a good old tidy. From fly tipping and illegal dumping to throwing cigarette butts out of car windows – we are still littering heavily. Fly tipping last year cost the tax payer over £120 million to clear up.
Last night, travel writer Bill Bryson reported on Britain’s litter crisis in a documentary for BBC’s Panorama. According to Bryson our standards are slipping. When he first came to the country, in 1972, he was by his own account ‘smitten’ about our ‘orderly, well-manicured society’ but now the honeymoon period is over.
Although it may be hard to believe, Britain has some of the toughest litter laws in Europe. With the introduction of The Cleaner Neighbourhoods and Environment Act in 2005, local authorities have been granted increased powers to penalise those who litter, fly-tip and otherwise deface and damage the local environment. However, penalties are still somewhat of a postcode lottery, as seventy four local authorities in Britain did not issue any penalty fines last year. Furthermore, due to the nature of littering and tipping, offenders are unlikely to get caught.
So are fixed penalty fines really the solution?
It seems whilst we are keen to recycle in the home, with our recycling boxes overflowing on our front paths, we are unable to get to grips with placing our chewing gum and cigarette butts in litter bins whilst out in the street.
So why don’t we place litter in bins? Could a broad national campaign to remind us to Keep Britain Tidy and drop our litter in bins again be the solution?
By Danielle Thomas
However, fifty years on Lady Brunner may well be turning in her grave as it seems that Britain still needs a good old tidy. From fly tipping and illegal dumping to throwing cigarette butts out of car windows – we are still littering heavily. Fly tipping last year cost the tax payer over £120 million to clear up.
Last night, travel writer Bill Bryson reported on Britain’s litter crisis in a documentary for BBC’s Panorama. According to Bryson our standards are slipping. When he first came to the country, in 1972, he was by his own account ‘smitten’ about our ‘orderly, well-manicured society’ but now the honeymoon period is over.
Although it may be hard to believe, Britain has some of the toughest litter laws in Europe. With the introduction of The Cleaner Neighbourhoods and Environment Act in 2005, local authorities have been granted increased powers to penalise those who litter, fly-tip and otherwise deface and damage the local environment. However, penalties are still somewhat of a postcode lottery, as seventy four local authorities in Britain did not issue any penalty fines last year. Furthermore, due to the nature of littering and tipping, offenders are unlikely to get caught.
So are fixed penalty fines really the solution?
It seems whilst we are keen to recycle in the home, with our recycling boxes overflowing on our front paths, we are unable to get to grips with placing our chewing gum and cigarette butts in litter bins whilst out in the street.
So why don’t we place litter in bins? Could a broad national campaign to remind us to Keep Britain Tidy and drop our litter in bins again be the solution?
By Danielle Thomas
Thursday, 7 August 2008
Can we still afford to save the planet during the credit crunch?
The credit crunch has forced nearly all of us to change our consumer habits one way or another over the last year. Soaring food and petrol prices have left our purses and wallets on the lighter side. Consequently we have given up many of life’s little luxuries – the coffees before work, the second car, eating out and the impulse buys – to name a few. Furthermore, as a result of our quest as consumers to get the best deals and seek cheaper alternatives, budget supermarkets such as Aldi and Lidl have attracted increased custom.
An article in The Times on 7 August 2008 states that even the organic food market has been credit-crunched. A sector which boomed from 2002 – 2007 due to the trendy, ‘Yummy Mummy - Jamie Oliver following’ movement has now stalled. The article states that this new organic food store on Kensington High Street is so quiet you can nearly hear the cheese breathe.
The results of a MORI poll carried out this month show we are less concerned about the environment than a year ago. The main reason is because our preoccupations have shifted onto the economy and rising prices. Rising commodity prices mean we are less inclined to spend our money going green.
However, paradoxically, this economic downturn has taught us a valuable lesson – we don’t have to pay to go green.
With fewer pounds in our pockets the country is unconsciously becoming greener.
In our bid to conserve money, we are growing our own produce, turning off our central heating, and taking fewer holidays abroad, thus reducing our carbon footprint. Our efforts to become increasingly economical are in fact just as environmentally-friendly. Even I myself have reconsidered the need for a plastic bag in Marks and Spencer since the introduction of their 5 pence charge per carrier.
Well, well, well the credit crunch isn’t such a bad thing after all.
By Danielle Thomas
An article in The Times on 7 August 2008 states that even the organic food market has been credit-crunched. A sector which boomed from 2002 – 2007 due to the trendy, ‘Yummy Mummy - Jamie Oliver following’ movement has now stalled. The article states that this new organic food store on Kensington High Street is so quiet you can nearly hear the cheese breathe.
The results of a MORI poll carried out this month show we are less concerned about the environment than a year ago. The main reason is because our preoccupations have shifted onto the economy and rising prices. Rising commodity prices mean we are less inclined to spend our money going green.
However, paradoxically, this economic downturn has taught us a valuable lesson – we don’t have to pay to go green.
With fewer pounds in our pockets the country is unconsciously becoming greener.
In our bid to conserve money, we are growing our own produce, turning off our central heating, and taking fewer holidays abroad, thus reducing our carbon footprint. Our efforts to become increasingly economical are in fact just as environmentally-friendly. Even I myself have reconsidered the need for a plastic bag in Marks and Spencer since the introduction of their 5 pence charge per carrier.
Well, well, well the credit crunch isn’t such a bad thing after all.
By Danielle Thomas
Wednesday, 6 August 2008
Pollution and the Beijing Olympics
There has been a lot of coverage in the news lately about the air pollution in Beijing, and its potential impact on the Olympic Games. I noticed particularly an article in The Sun on the 5th August.
It explained how China has attempted to improve the environment. It has banned cars from the city’s streets, closed local factories and planted trees in an effort to improve the air. However, it just doesn’t seem to have worked that well.
I can’t imagine how athletes from endurance events, such as the Marathon are going to manage. According to the article, the marathon may have to be postponed and many athletes are considering competing in protective masks. If an event is postponed, it will be the first time that it is down to air pollution.
However, we have to be careful about the judgements that we make - a lot of the pollution in China comes from Britain. At a landfill site in Xing Tan, the Sun found Tesco carrier bags and discarded British electrical goods. Experts say that sites like this could responsible for much of Beijing’s smog problems. Under EU Law British waste cannot be dumped abroad, but shipments for recycling are permitted. Recycling is an economically lucrative task in China – the article cites Zhang Guofu, who makes more money as a rubbish dealer than his previous job as a rice farmer. Ironically, the problem is exacerbated because a lot of the products that are sent back for recycling originated in China in the first place. 1.9 million tons of paper, 390,000 tons of metal and 78,000 tons of plastic are sent to China from the UK.
It will be interesting to see what environmental changes will be made in London for 2012, as a result of these problems experienced in China.
It explained how China has attempted to improve the environment. It has banned cars from the city’s streets, closed local factories and planted trees in an effort to improve the air. However, it just doesn’t seem to have worked that well.
I can’t imagine how athletes from endurance events, such as the Marathon are going to manage. According to the article, the marathon may have to be postponed and many athletes are considering competing in protective masks. If an event is postponed, it will be the first time that it is down to air pollution.
However, we have to be careful about the judgements that we make - a lot of the pollution in China comes from Britain. At a landfill site in Xing Tan, the Sun found Tesco carrier bags and discarded British electrical goods. Experts say that sites like this could responsible for much of Beijing’s smog problems. Under EU Law British waste cannot be dumped abroad, but shipments for recycling are permitted. Recycling is an economically lucrative task in China – the article cites Zhang Guofu, who makes more money as a rubbish dealer than his previous job as a rice farmer. Ironically, the problem is exacerbated because a lot of the products that are sent back for recycling originated in China in the first place. 1.9 million tons of paper, 390,000 tons of metal and 78,000 tons of plastic are sent to China from the UK.
It will be interesting to see what environmental changes will be made in London for 2012, as a result of these problems experienced in China.
Thursday, 31 July 2008
Miliband for change
Yesterday Foreign Secretary, the Rt Hon David Miliband urged his party to ‘Stop feeling sorry for itself” and change in a letter to the Guardian newspaper. This came within hours of the Leader of the House, the Rt Hon Harriet Harman MP’s denial of starting a leadership bid and several Labour MP publically calling for a change of leadership.
Miliband started his letter reflecting on the aftermath of Labour’s third successive defeat at the 1959 election and a pamphlet produced shortly after entitled “Must Labour lose?”. According to Mr Miliband “Today, the temptation is similar fatalism”. He accepts that the odds are stacked against a Labour victory at the next general election, and suggests that the party can turn things around to beat the electoral odds and win a 4th term, by offering real change.
“New Labour won three elections by offering real change – not just in policy but in the way we do politics. We must do so again.”
In his letter to the Guardian, David Miliband addresses the problems the government is now facing and calls for change. ‘Change’ is a keyword in Mr Miliband’s letter just as it is Barack Obama’s presidential campaign. However, David Miliband MP is not running for office and insists his letter was written to unite his party rather than for personal gain. Despite his claims there is still much speculation around the intentions of Mr Miliband’s letter. Is this Miliband’s own personal vision for Labour’s future and the start of his leadership bid?
David Miliband viewed as a potential forerunner to succeed Gordon Brown if he resigns, urged Labour to be more humble about their failings but more compelling about their achievements. He mentioned a series of Labour’s shortcomings, things he believes the government should have done in hindsight – such as reforming the NHS sooner and making more efficient plans on winning peace in Iraq. However, could this be interpreted as his own personal manifesto? Is he agenda setting for his own Premiership?
Regardless of his agenda, I believe Mr Miliband has raised some very good points. The Foreign Secretary concludes his letter, “So let’s stop feeling sorry for ourselves, enjoy a break and then find the confidence to make our case afresh”. We’ll have to wait until the autumn to see if his advice is taken on board.
By Danielle Thomas
Miliband started his letter reflecting on the aftermath of Labour’s third successive defeat at the 1959 election and a pamphlet produced shortly after entitled “Must Labour lose?”. According to Mr Miliband “Today, the temptation is similar fatalism”. He accepts that the odds are stacked against a Labour victory at the next general election, and suggests that the party can turn things around to beat the electoral odds and win a 4th term, by offering real change.
“New Labour won three elections by offering real change – not just in policy but in the way we do politics. We must do so again.”
In his letter to the Guardian, David Miliband addresses the problems the government is now facing and calls for change. ‘Change’ is a keyword in Mr Miliband’s letter just as it is Barack Obama’s presidential campaign. However, David Miliband MP is not running for office and insists his letter was written to unite his party rather than for personal gain. Despite his claims there is still much speculation around the intentions of Mr Miliband’s letter. Is this Miliband’s own personal vision for Labour’s future and the start of his leadership bid?
David Miliband viewed as a potential forerunner to succeed Gordon Brown if he resigns, urged Labour to be more humble about their failings but more compelling about their achievements. He mentioned a series of Labour’s shortcomings, things he believes the government should have done in hindsight – such as reforming the NHS sooner and making more efficient plans on winning peace in Iraq. However, could this be interpreted as his own personal manifesto? Is he agenda setting for his own Premiership?
Regardless of his agenda, I believe Mr Miliband has raised some very good points. The Foreign Secretary concludes his letter, “So let’s stop feeling sorry for ourselves, enjoy a break and then find the confidence to make our case afresh”. We’ll have to wait until the autumn to see if his advice is taken on board.
By Danielle Thomas
Collapse of Doha – too many differences?
Yesterday in Geneva, the Doha Round of trade talks came to an abrupt halt and collapsed after being launched seven years ago. After what has been described to have been nine days of very tough and tense negotiations, an agreement was just not able to be reached.
The World Trade Organization (WTO) called these trade negotiations the ‘Doha’ Round back in 2001, because they were launched in Doha, Qatar. The main objective of these talks was to liberalise global trade in order to make importing and exporting simpler and less expensive, especially for developing countries. A lot of enthusiasm and hope was placed on these multilateral trade talks and the potential of globalization, with the elimination of trade barriers and tariffs seen as something that could benefit both rich and poor. But the breakdown down of talks yesterday was partly due to the inability of developed and developing countries to reach a compromise on opening up their domestic markets to more competition.
The negotiations have taken place between the 35 country members of the WTO, with meetings taking the place around the world, with what seems to be a recurring theme – the pushing back of deadlines. The original deadline was actually set for January 2005. The Doha trade talks have actually collapsed three times over the last seven years, so perhaps the failure of the latest talks in Geneva yesterday comes as no surprise.
Analysts are saying that this time round, negotiations broke down essentially because India, China and the US failed to agree over measures to protect poor farmers. Although there is some blaming that is occurring at the moment, with China pointing the finger at the US and the EU for unwilling to eliminate the large subsidies they pay their farmers, a lot of Ministers are very disappointed by the outcome, and are united in their willingness not to give up yet. For example, India’s envoy to the talks, Ujal Singh Bhatia, said “bottom line is we can’t give up.”
So what does this mean for multilateralism? In an interview with the BBC yesterday, Peter Mandelson, the EU trade Commissioner, dismissed the claim that some are now making that multilateralism is dead. What seems clear is that these difficult global economic conditions we are living under, with petrol and food prices soaring, are making it increasingly challenging for countries to agree on matters of trade. There is still a possibility that talks may resume at later date, but whether or not more time is what these negotiations need to succeed, seems unlikely.
The World Trade Organization (WTO) called these trade negotiations the ‘Doha’ Round back in 2001, because they were launched in Doha, Qatar. The main objective of these talks was to liberalise global trade in order to make importing and exporting simpler and less expensive, especially for developing countries. A lot of enthusiasm and hope was placed on these multilateral trade talks and the potential of globalization, with the elimination of trade barriers and tariffs seen as something that could benefit both rich and poor. But the breakdown down of talks yesterday was partly due to the inability of developed and developing countries to reach a compromise on opening up their domestic markets to more competition.
The negotiations have taken place between the 35 country members of the WTO, with meetings taking the place around the world, with what seems to be a recurring theme – the pushing back of deadlines. The original deadline was actually set for January 2005. The Doha trade talks have actually collapsed three times over the last seven years, so perhaps the failure of the latest talks in Geneva yesterday comes as no surprise.
Analysts are saying that this time round, negotiations broke down essentially because India, China and the US failed to agree over measures to protect poor farmers. Although there is some blaming that is occurring at the moment, with China pointing the finger at the US and the EU for unwilling to eliminate the large subsidies they pay their farmers, a lot of Ministers are very disappointed by the outcome, and are united in their willingness not to give up yet. For example, India’s envoy to the talks, Ujal Singh Bhatia, said “bottom line is we can’t give up.”
So what does this mean for multilateralism? In an interview with the BBC yesterday, Peter Mandelson, the EU trade Commissioner, dismissed the claim that some are now making that multilateralism is dead. What seems clear is that these difficult global economic conditions we are living under, with petrol and food prices soaring, are making it increasingly challenging for countries to agree on matters of trade. There is still a possibility that talks may resume at later date, but whether or not more time is what these negotiations need to succeed, seems unlikely.
Thursday, 24 July 2008
E-petitions: giving people a voice
Just a day before MPs got ready to enjoy their long summer break, with Parliament now in recess until 6 October, an interesting new announcement came out of the Commons. On Tuesday, 22 July, the Government called on the House to adopt an e-petition system that would allow the public to petition MPs through the internet. Parliamentarians will have to make a decision about this when they return in the fall.
The Rt Hon Harriet Harman, Leader of the House, made the announcement that the Government was behind the recommendations put forward by the Commons Procedure Committee, to create an e-petitions website and office. Hopeful of widening the scope of debate in Parliament, Harman has introduced other initiatives in her efforts to get Parliament more connected and engaged with the public. Last year, she introduced weekly topical debates in the Commons and would like to see this idea continued.
The Prime Minister’s Office already has an e-petitions system in place. Since it was launched back in 2006, more than 29,000 e-petitions have been received at Downing Street, resulting in over 5.8 million signatures. Last February, one million drivers signed a petition against road-charging, becoming the most popular petition on the Downing Street’s website. Despite the fact that the former Transport Secretary, Douglas Alexander, said that he would listen to motorists concern, he said that road-charging was inevitable. This of course raises some doubts about what impact e-petitions actually have.
However, being the optimist that I am, I think that giving people the opportunity to voice their opinion in this way is a great idea and one that would strengthen people’s confidence in our democratic system. Improving public access and engagement with Parliament is certainly a worthy pursuit when people often feel far removed and disengaged from Governmental procedures and processes. I hope that MPs will return from their summer holidays refreshed and reinvigorated, but most importantly, ready to support this new plan.
The Rt Hon Harriet Harman, Leader of the House, made the announcement that the Government was behind the recommendations put forward by the Commons Procedure Committee, to create an e-petitions website and office. Hopeful of widening the scope of debate in Parliament, Harman has introduced other initiatives in her efforts to get Parliament more connected and engaged with the public. Last year, she introduced weekly topical debates in the Commons and would like to see this idea continued.
The Prime Minister’s Office already has an e-petitions system in place. Since it was launched back in 2006, more than 29,000 e-petitions have been received at Downing Street, resulting in over 5.8 million signatures. Last February, one million drivers signed a petition against road-charging, becoming the most popular petition on the Downing Street’s website. Despite the fact that the former Transport Secretary, Douglas Alexander, said that he would listen to motorists concern, he said that road-charging was inevitable. This of course raises some doubts about what impact e-petitions actually have.
However, being the optimist that I am, I think that giving people the opportunity to voice their opinion in this way is a great idea and one that would strengthen people’s confidence in our democratic system. Improving public access and engagement with Parliament is certainly a worthy pursuit when people often feel far removed and disengaged from Governmental procedures and processes. I hope that MPs will return from their summer holidays refreshed and reinvigorated, but most importantly, ready to support this new plan.
Friday, 18 July 2008
Looking beyond the cost of the Games
Yesterday I went to Parliament and attended the Commons cross-party Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee hearing. It was an oral evidence session on the Department’s Annual Report 2008 and responsibilities of the Secretary of State, the Rt Hon Andy Burnham MP. In front of the Committee’s panel members, including Janet Anderson MP, Alan Keen MP and Chairman John Whittingdale MP, Mr. Burnham had to account for his Department’s actions and achievements.
It was an interesting session overall that covered a wide range of issues. Mr. Burnham answered questions about tourism, ticket touting, the music industry and gambling. And not surprisingly, one of the main issues raised was the London 2012 Olympics. When asked what he thought about the negative press surrounding the British Games, Mr. Burnham answered, ‘Some people are unduly and unnecessarily whingeing about the whole thing’. To be fair, he was not implying that the Government should not be exempt from scrutiny, but rather felt there had been too much energy focused on a single issue: the price tag of the Games.
The Secretary of State talked about the sense of excitement he hopes will be instilled in the country when the Olympic flame is passed onto London Mayor Boris Johnson at the closing ceremony of the Beijing Games. He explained how hosting the Olympics was a tremendous and unique opportunity to breathe new energy into promoting sport, culture and tourism in the UK.
Of course the cost of the Games needs to be controlled and well-managed. But it is shame that so much negativity has already been shed on London 2012. Just now, I did a quick Google news search for ‘London 2012’ and the majority of articles that came up were not very inspiring to say the least. Hosting the Olympics is an opportunity that doesn’t come along every day, and I hope as Mr. Burnham said that the ‘country can become united around sport’. This world-class event can change the way young people view sport and physical activity in general. Now that would be a legacy to be proud of!
It was an interesting session overall that covered a wide range of issues. Mr. Burnham answered questions about tourism, ticket touting, the music industry and gambling. And not surprisingly, one of the main issues raised was the London 2012 Olympics. When asked what he thought about the negative press surrounding the British Games, Mr. Burnham answered, ‘Some people are unduly and unnecessarily whingeing about the whole thing’. To be fair, he was not implying that the Government should not be exempt from scrutiny, but rather felt there had been too much energy focused on a single issue: the price tag of the Games.
The Secretary of State talked about the sense of excitement he hopes will be instilled in the country when the Olympic flame is passed onto London Mayor Boris Johnson at the closing ceremony of the Beijing Games. He explained how hosting the Olympics was a tremendous and unique opportunity to breathe new energy into promoting sport, culture and tourism in the UK.
Of course the cost of the Games needs to be controlled and well-managed. But it is shame that so much negativity has already been shed on London 2012. Just now, I did a quick Google news search for ‘London 2012’ and the majority of articles that came up were not very inspiring to say the least. Hosting the Olympics is an opportunity that doesn’t come along every day, and I hope as Mr. Burnham said that the ‘country can become united around sport’. This world-class event can change the way young people view sport and physical activity in general. Now that would be a legacy to be proud of!
Happy Birthday NHS
You may have heard that it was the 60th Anniversary of the NHS on July 5th. This event has set the think tanks into overdrive. For example, the Fabian Society, a leading Labour think tank, has suggested turning this day into another public holiday to celebrate Britishness. Now I have to say that sounds like a great idea to me, see here for more detail
Another think tank, Reform, polled 201 GPs on their thoughts about NHS funding and regulation (see here for full report). The poll showed that there is little enthusiasm among GPs for the US style of health care, where patients choose whether or not to have health insurance. However, the majority of GPs polled thought that patients should be allowed to pay for additional treatment, without needing to pay for all their treatment.
GPs appear to be disillusioned with the profession. 60% of GPs said that their overall level of satisfaction working in the NHS was either low or very low, and more than 70% said that their satisfaction level had decreased since qualification. Only 5% of GPs think that the current structure of regulation helps them in making decisions in the best interests of patients.
So, as always with the NHS, even at the age of 60, there is still clearly more that needs to be done. But we will wait eagerly to see what happens following Lord Darzi’s review.
Another think tank, Reform, polled 201 GPs on their thoughts about NHS funding and regulation (see here for full report). The poll showed that there is little enthusiasm among GPs for the US style of health care, where patients choose whether or not to have health insurance. However, the majority of GPs polled thought that patients should be allowed to pay for additional treatment, without needing to pay for all their treatment.
GPs appear to be disillusioned with the profession. 60% of GPs said that their overall level of satisfaction working in the NHS was either low or very low, and more than 70% said that their satisfaction level had decreased since qualification. Only 5% of GPs think that the current structure of regulation helps them in making decisions in the best interests of patients.
So, as always with the NHS, even at the age of 60, there is still clearly more that needs to be done. But we will wait eagerly to see what happens following Lord Darzi’s review.
Friday, 11 July 2008
David Davis - Principles or political planning?
I for one am struggling to see the point of David Davis recent resignation and re-election circus. Surely there are other ways to take a stand? But lets have a look at the facts first, and maybe we can then see what is going on in his head! (see here for more details)
Davis resigned last month after Government proposals for detaining terror suspects for up to 42 days without charge were approved by the Commons, and announced he would seek re-election on the issue of civil liberties. On the evening of the 10th July, the former Shadow Home Secretary was returned to Parliament as MP for Haltemprice and Howden with a majority of 15,355. Davis says that expanding the DNA database will be his next battle.
Turnout in the by election was down to just over 34 per cent in yesterday's poll, compared to 70.2 per cent in the 2005 general election, allowing some of Mr Davis's opponents to claim that his resignation and re-election was farsical. Neither Labour nor the Liberal Democrats stood in the by election.
According to one estimate, the by-election process has cost taxpayers more than £200,000. Davis has dismissed criticism over the cost of this forced by-election, saying that he has taken a stand on principle. Davis himself admits his decision to resign has very likely cost his place in cabinet and any place in future cabinet as a result, but still considers the move worthwhile.
So what is the actual reason behind all this? To my mind there are two possibilities. Either it is really a matter of principle, and he views potential political suicide as a reasonable price to pay to bring the matter to the public’s attention. Or it may all be a very sly political move, staking his claim for future political changes. Only time will tell.
Davis resigned last month after Government proposals for detaining terror suspects for up to 42 days without charge were approved by the Commons, and announced he would seek re-election on the issue of civil liberties. On the evening of the 10th July, the former Shadow Home Secretary was returned to Parliament as MP for Haltemprice and Howden with a majority of 15,355. Davis says that expanding the DNA database will be his next battle.
Turnout in the by election was down to just over 34 per cent in yesterday's poll, compared to 70.2 per cent in the 2005 general election, allowing some of Mr Davis's opponents to claim that his resignation and re-election was farsical. Neither Labour nor the Liberal Democrats stood in the by election.
According to one estimate, the by-election process has cost taxpayers more than £200,000. Davis has dismissed criticism over the cost of this forced by-election, saying that he has taken a stand on principle. Davis himself admits his decision to resign has very likely cost his place in cabinet and any place in future cabinet as a result, but still considers the move worthwhile.
So what is the actual reason behind all this? To my mind there are two possibilities. Either it is really a matter of principle, and he views potential political suicide as a reasonable price to pay to bring the matter to the public’s attention. Or it may all be a very sly political move, staking his claim for future political changes. Only time will tell.
Thursday, 10 July 2008
Off-target?
Environmentalists see the G8 Summit’s pledge to fight climate change by cutting carbon emissions by at least 50% by 2050 as ‘meaningless’ without any targets. Without any numerical or medium term targets for 2020, environmental campaigners see this declaration as lacking concrete and serious commitment on behalf of the Group of Eight leaders. Greenpeace described the meeting as a “real diversion from real action on climate change”.
The G8 nations - The United States, Britain, Germany, France, Italy, Canada, Japan and Russia – ended their three day summit yesterday, in the Japanese resort of Lake Toya, Japan. Besides the usual protests that normally arise at meetings that bring together the richest nations of the world, several problems arose along the way.
First, despite the fact that the Japanese Prime Minister, Yasuo Fukuda, hoped that this year’s Summit main agenda and focus would be an environmental one, two pressing global issues were difficult to ignore. The worrying rising price of fuel and rising cost of food have become key issues on all countries’ agendas.
The other main challenge of the Summit was reaching a consensus on what each country should be doing to help minimize the effect of climate change. Whose responsibility is it - everyone’s or just developed countries? The Americans want to see carbon emission reductions from developing countries such as China and India first, before signing up for any drastic cuts. While the Europeans, on the other hand, believe that developed nations need to be the first to commit to signing specific reduction targets.
It is clear then that the outcome the G8 Summit in Japan differs depending on who you are speaking with. The White House’s statement yesterday which applauded this year’s Summit for having achieved a major step forward for the environment is a far cry from environmental groups’ reaction. The biggest divide remains between developed and developing countries, who are still struggling to agree on a uniform target and objective date. Developing countries took part in a meeting of 16 major economies held on the fringes of the G8’s three-day summit in Hokkaido, which revealed that not all countries are ready to sign on to the 2050 goal, including China, India, Brazil, Mexico and South Africa.
I believe that developed countries need to set a precedent and lead the way in environmental action as they have the resources and technology at their disposal. The Kyoto Protocol will start to expire in 2012, and I hope that the momentum with be there in December 2009 when a new climate change accord is set to be written in Copenhagen, Denmark. Leadership is desperately needed and I think that the G8 should demonstrate how climate change can be tackled.
The G8 nations - The United States, Britain, Germany, France, Italy, Canada, Japan and Russia – ended their three day summit yesterday, in the Japanese resort of Lake Toya, Japan. Besides the usual protests that normally arise at meetings that bring together the richest nations of the world, several problems arose along the way.
First, despite the fact that the Japanese Prime Minister, Yasuo Fukuda, hoped that this year’s Summit main agenda and focus would be an environmental one, two pressing global issues were difficult to ignore. The worrying rising price of fuel and rising cost of food have become key issues on all countries’ agendas.
The other main challenge of the Summit was reaching a consensus on what each country should be doing to help minimize the effect of climate change. Whose responsibility is it - everyone’s or just developed countries? The Americans want to see carbon emission reductions from developing countries such as China and India first, before signing up for any drastic cuts. While the Europeans, on the other hand, believe that developed nations need to be the first to commit to signing specific reduction targets.
It is clear then that the outcome the G8 Summit in Japan differs depending on who you are speaking with. The White House’s statement yesterday which applauded this year’s Summit for having achieved a major step forward for the environment is a far cry from environmental groups’ reaction. The biggest divide remains between developed and developing countries, who are still struggling to agree on a uniform target and objective date. Developing countries took part in a meeting of 16 major economies held on the fringes of the G8’s three-day summit in Hokkaido, which revealed that not all countries are ready to sign on to the 2050 goal, including China, India, Brazil, Mexico and South Africa.
I believe that developed countries need to set a precedent and lead the way in environmental action as they have the resources and technology at their disposal. The Kyoto Protocol will start to expire in 2012, and I hope that the momentum with be there in December 2009 when a new climate change accord is set to be written in Copenhagen, Denmark. Leadership is desperately needed and I think that the G8 should demonstrate how climate change can be tackled.
Friday, 27 June 2008
Apologies made, can Labour turn it around?
No more hiding allowed, the Government finally faces up to the fact that they have failed miserably in their management of data handling. In the Commons on Wednesday, Alistair Darling had to apologize for the “serious institutional deficiencies” after four independent reports revealed the extent to which data protection and security have been inadequate across Whitehall.
Fittingly, just the day before, I attended an event at Westminster on the topic of ‘Data Security & Information Assurance’, hosted by the Parliamentary Information Technology Committee (PITCOM). The Chairman of the Cross-Departmental Committee on IT and Information Security, the RT Hon Paul Murphy MP, chaired the meeting and spoke about what he thought needed to be done in order to make data security a priority across all departments. The topic attracted a crowd, with not an empty seat to be had in the committee room.
Many of the points that Mr. Murphy touched upon, such as the importance of mandatory information training, working together across departments, regaining the public’s trust, and implementing stricter security measures, were echoed in the following day’s reports. The Information Commissioner’s Office, the data watchdog, warned that improvements needed to be made without delay, as some departments were even at risk of facing prosecution because of “deplorable failures”.
I strongly welcome the publications of these reports as they have forced the Government and the Civil Service to acknowledge that the issue of data security is a serious one. In an age where we share and give out our personal information almost on a daily basis, the Government must implement the necessary security measures. This matter will only become more serious with time, as data sharing continues to become more widespread.
With today marking the one year anniversary of Gordon Brown in power - the Labour party unfortunately has a lot more than just this one issue at stake. The results of the Henley by-election came out this morning, revealing a disastrous fifth place finish for Labour, winning less than 5% of the vote. So with little to celebrate on this anniversary, the Prime Minister faces pressure from all sides and on all issues. Will he be able to endure another defeat? The Labour party definitely needs a victory, small or large, in order to stop the increasingly popular Conservative train. Why not start with the issue of data security?
Fittingly, just the day before, I attended an event at Westminster on the topic of ‘Data Security & Information Assurance’, hosted by the Parliamentary Information Technology Committee (PITCOM). The Chairman of the Cross-Departmental Committee on IT and Information Security, the RT Hon Paul Murphy MP, chaired the meeting and spoke about what he thought needed to be done in order to make data security a priority across all departments. The topic attracted a crowd, with not an empty seat to be had in the committee room.
Many of the points that Mr. Murphy touched upon, such as the importance of mandatory information training, working together across departments, regaining the public’s trust, and implementing stricter security measures, were echoed in the following day’s reports. The Information Commissioner’s Office, the data watchdog, warned that improvements needed to be made without delay, as some departments were even at risk of facing prosecution because of “deplorable failures”.
I strongly welcome the publications of these reports as they have forced the Government and the Civil Service to acknowledge that the issue of data security is a serious one. In an age where we share and give out our personal information almost on a daily basis, the Government must implement the necessary security measures. This matter will only become more serious with time, as data sharing continues to become more widespread.
With today marking the one year anniversary of Gordon Brown in power - the Labour party unfortunately has a lot more than just this one issue at stake. The results of the Henley by-election came out this morning, revealing a disastrous fifth place finish for Labour, winning less than 5% of the vote. So with little to celebrate on this anniversary, the Prime Minister faces pressure from all sides and on all issues. Will he be able to endure another defeat? The Labour party definitely needs a victory, small or large, in order to stop the increasingly popular Conservative train. Why not start with the issue of data security?
Friday, 20 June 2008
Inflation, inflation
A warning of tough times ahead was made loud and clear last night when the Governor of the Bank of England, Mervyn King, and Chancellor of the Exchequer, Alistair Darling, spoke to bankers and merchants last night at the Lord Mayor’s dinner. The speeches delivered at this important annual event in the financial calendar, held at Mansion House, left little room for cheer. The headline in the Financial Times today sombrely read, “King and Darling issue bleak forecast”.
King and Darling explained that the country had to brace itself for the harsh realities of below-inflation pay rises, more expense mortgages, as well as rising fuel and food prices. Mr. King did not try to soften his words and clearly stated that Britain was facing “the most difficult economic challenge for two decades.”
In their speeches, they both talked about how families in the UK needed to prepare themselves for a tight squeeze on real income. In fact, getting tough on inflation was the main resounding theme of their discourse. Inflation has jumped to 3.3 % in the UK, its highest level since 1992, and is likely to reach 4% in the coming months. The Governor and the Chancellor warned against excessive pay rises, arguing that inflation pay settlements would have disastrous results, leading to years of economic hardship.
The Government may be right to say that everyone has to ‘tighten their belts’, but they certainly will have a hard time dealing with public sector workers in the coming weeks. Union workers are not happy about the prospect of accepting below-inflation pay rises and believe they are the ones who have been hardest hit. Can the Government cope with the prospect of strikes at this time? Some tough decisions will have to be made about whether some concessions are merited.
King and Darling explained that the country had to brace itself for the harsh realities of below-inflation pay rises, more expense mortgages, as well as rising fuel and food prices. Mr. King did not try to soften his words and clearly stated that Britain was facing “the most difficult economic challenge for two decades.”
In their speeches, they both talked about how families in the UK needed to prepare themselves for a tight squeeze on real income. In fact, getting tough on inflation was the main resounding theme of their discourse. Inflation has jumped to 3.3 % in the UK, its highest level since 1992, and is likely to reach 4% in the coming months. The Governor and the Chancellor warned against excessive pay rises, arguing that inflation pay settlements would have disastrous results, leading to years of economic hardship.
The Government may be right to say that everyone has to ‘tighten their belts’, but they certainly will have a hard time dealing with public sector workers in the coming weeks. Union workers are not happy about the prospect of accepting below-inflation pay rises and believe they are the ones who have been hardest hit. Can the Government cope with the prospect of strikes at this time? Some tough decisions will have to be made about whether some concessions are merited.
Wednesday, 11 June 2008
Olympic Promises
Last week, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport published a Legacy Action Plan: ‘Before, during and after: making the most of the London 2012 Games’. This action plan builds upon the five promises made in June 2007, published in Our Promise for 2012, which sets out the overall framework and main priorities for reaching each legacy objective.
The five promises include: to make the UK a world-leading sporting nation; to transform the heart of East London; to inspire a generation of young people; to make the Olympic Park a blueprint for sustainable living, and finally to demonstrate the UK is a creative, inclusive and welcoming place to live in, visit and for business.
These five ambitions showcase the impressive legacy the London 2012 Olympics can leave behind if the necessary work and planning begins early and if the level of commitment remains constant throughout the preparation stages. The Minister for the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games and London, the Rt Hon Tessa Jowell MP, reminds us in the foreword to this plan that the Government cannot work alone to ensure that these goals are met. As a result, she calls upon all individuals, communities and regions of the UK to take part in unleashing the great potential that the Olympic Games hold.
Some promises may end up being more challenging to keep than others. Promises are one thing, funding the infrastructure developments for sport are quite another. Having the 2012 Games become a model of sustainable development, for instance, will no doubt prove difficult when budgetary and time issues come into play. Hopefully the environment will not be put on the back burner when crucial construction deadlines start approaching.
If the steps outlined in this action plan are followed though and the various programmes that have been put in place to help realise each goal run smoothly; business, young people, and tourism in the UK, to name but a few, will surely have benefited.
The five promises include: to make the UK a world-leading sporting nation; to transform the heart of East London; to inspire a generation of young people; to make the Olympic Park a blueprint for sustainable living, and finally to demonstrate the UK is a creative, inclusive and welcoming place to live in, visit and for business.
These five ambitions showcase the impressive legacy the London 2012 Olympics can leave behind if the necessary work and planning begins early and if the level of commitment remains constant throughout the preparation stages. The Minister for the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games and London, the Rt Hon Tessa Jowell MP, reminds us in the foreword to this plan that the Government cannot work alone to ensure that these goals are met. As a result, she calls upon all individuals, communities and regions of the UK to take part in unleashing the great potential that the Olympic Games hold.
Some promises may end up being more challenging to keep than others. Promises are one thing, funding the infrastructure developments for sport are quite another. Having the 2012 Games become a model of sustainable development, for instance, will no doubt prove difficult when budgetary and time issues come into play. Hopefully the environment will not be put on the back burner when crucial construction deadlines start approaching.
If the steps outlined in this action plan are followed though and the various programmes that have been put in place to help realise each goal run smoothly; business, young people, and tourism in the UK, to name but a few, will surely have benefited.
Drowning in the deep end
The Olympics Minister, Tessa Jowell, announced a new £140 million fund to boost sport and fitness through free swimming for over 60s last week as the centrepiece of the Government’s plan to ensure a lasting sporting legacy from the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games.
If achieved, swimming throughout 1500 pools will be freely available to 10 million people. It is interesting to note that Wales already offers such a service for young people and over-65s. One cynical blogger noted, “we are yet to see if the Welsh have now become the fitter nation.”
It is interesting to see how different newspapers responded to what should be seen as a positive story and to try and assess the value of the Government’s announcement.
The Independent describe it as “one of those practical initiatives that pleases because of its simplicity.”
The Times describe it as a policy “drawn up on the back of a cereal box.”
There is a common theme however, though that does runs through most articles: this announcement is from a Government that has allowed building developers to build over school playing fields (having promised to stop this practice) and from a Government responsible for the closure of 10 per cent of swimming pools a year. Other questions raised query the Government’s ability to fund the initiative, and whether swimming pools face becoming over-crowded.
Grand announcements are always easy to broadcast and the Government has been under pressure to show signs of an Olympic legacy post 2012.
What this announcement highlighted is the lack of adequate swimming facilities currently available to people. Large parts of the country have below average swimming facilities available while Manchester, having hosted the Commonwealth Games, boasts top class swimming facilities.
On the surface this does seem like a decent proposal, but one wonders if the Government has dived into the deep end on this having not given it enough thought.
- Greg
If achieved, swimming throughout 1500 pools will be freely available to 10 million people. It is interesting to note that Wales already offers such a service for young people and over-65s. One cynical blogger noted, “we are yet to see if the Welsh have now become the fitter nation.”
It is interesting to see how different newspapers responded to what should be seen as a positive story and to try and assess the value of the Government’s announcement.
The Independent describe it as “one of those practical initiatives that pleases because of its simplicity.”
The Times describe it as a policy “drawn up on the back of a cereal box.”
There is a common theme however, though that does runs through most articles: this announcement is from a Government that has allowed building developers to build over school playing fields (having promised to stop this practice) and from a Government responsible for the closure of 10 per cent of swimming pools a year. Other questions raised query the Government’s ability to fund the initiative, and whether swimming pools face becoming over-crowded.
Grand announcements are always easy to broadcast and the Government has been under pressure to show signs of an Olympic legacy post 2012.
What this announcement highlighted is the lack of adequate swimming facilities currently available to people. Large parts of the country have below average swimming facilities available while Manchester, having hosted the Commonwealth Games, boasts top class swimming facilities.
On the surface this does seem like a decent proposal, but one wonders if the Government has dived into the deep end on this having not given it enough thought.
- Greg
Friday, 6 June 2008
Environmental blues for the aviation industry
Friends of the Earth issued a press release on Tuesday about how two thirds of FTSE 100 and 250 firms in the UK are united in their disapproval of the government’s decision to leave out of the aviation and shipping industries from the carbon emission reduction targets. But the shipping industry seems to have gotten off lightly, as criticism has been primarily focused on aviation.
Environmentalists have been heavily targeting the airline industry recently, accusing them of being one the main culprits of climate change. Who can forget the infamous protest by 5 members of ‘Plane Stupid’ – a network of groups taking action against airport expansion and aviation’s climate impact – who scaled the Houses of Parliament on 27 February, 2008, in order to draw attention to the planned third runway at Heathrow airport?
But is the industry being unfairly targeted? The aviation industry has begun to fight back, and is trying to convince the public that they are indeed making substantial efforts to improve their green credentials. Actual figures reveal that aviation accounts for just 2% of global greenhouse gas emissions, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Also, new planes such as the Airbus 380 and the Boeing 787 are said to generate 20% less carbon dioxide than similar planes just a decade ago.
However the industry may now be motivated to switch to more fuel-efficient technology because of higher oil prices, than genuine environmental concerns.
In any case, what is certain is that the aviation industry does not deserve special treatment and must abide to the same carbon reduction targets as everyone else. If the UK’s Climate Change law is to help bring about substantial environmental change, all industries need to be held accountable.
Environmentalists have been heavily targeting the airline industry recently, accusing them of being one the main culprits of climate change. Who can forget the infamous protest by 5 members of ‘Plane Stupid’ – a network of groups taking action against airport expansion and aviation’s climate impact – who scaled the Houses of Parliament on 27 February, 2008, in order to draw attention to the planned third runway at Heathrow airport?
But is the industry being unfairly targeted? The aviation industry has begun to fight back, and is trying to convince the public that they are indeed making substantial efforts to improve their green credentials. Actual figures reveal that aviation accounts for just 2% of global greenhouse gas emissions, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Also, new planes such as the Airbus 380 and the Boeing 787 are said to generate 20% less carbon dioxide than similar planes just a decade ago.
However the industry may now be motivated to switch to more fuel-efficient technology because of higher oil prices, than genuine environmental concerns.
In any case, what is certain is that the aviation industry does not deserve special treatment and must abide to the same carbon reduction targets as everyone else. If the UK’s Climate Change law is to help bring about substantial environmental change, all industries need to be held accountable.
Friday, 30 May 2008
Petrol Problems
It seems the cost of fuel is always in the papers at the moment. We all know that the price of petrol is going up, due to the world price of barrels of oil, and this is having an impact on every economy in the world. In the UK, the problem is exacerbated by the amount of duty we pay at the pump. These high costs are causing problems for car drivers, especially those who drive to work, and may even force vehicle based businesses to close. However, the question is, how might these increasing fuel prices work in environmental terms? Could they force people to use their cars less often and reduce carbon consumption?
Although this is a commendable idea, I think that people will still use their cars for the foreseeable future. Therefore, an additional solution maybe further developing green car technologies so that cars simply do not need to use petrol (or at least use less petrol). For example, Lotus have developed a car that runs on a combination of gasoline, bioethnanol and methanol, and another one that runs on biofuel. Unlike hydrogen, which must be stored at very high pressure, or very low temperatures, methanol is a liquid at room temperature. It can also burn with greater thermal efficiency than diesel. Another example is the Toyota Prius, which uses both petrol and an electric motor.
Surely, the way to maximise the benefit of environmental policies around transport is to combine a number of possible solutions – technical innovations, green taxes and encouraging greener consumer behaviour.
Although this is a commendable idea, I think that people will still use their cars for the foreseeable future. Therefore, an additional solution maybe further developing green car technologies so that cars simply do not need to use petrol (or at least use less petrol). For example, Lotus have developed a car that runs on a combination of gasoline, bioethnanol and methanol, and another one that runs on biofuel. Unlike hydrogen, which must be stored at very high pressure, or very low temperatures, methanol is a liquid at room temperature. It can also burn with greater thermal efficiency than diesel. Another example is the Toyota Prius, which uses both petrol and an electric motor.
Surely, the way to maximise the benefit of environmental policies around transport is to combine a number of possible solutions – technical innovations, green taxes and encouraging greener consumer behaviour.
Food Crisis
Kofi Annan, former Secretary-General of the United Nations and co-recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize in 2001, called for “nothing short of a green revolution” in Africa when he spoke at King’s College London yesterday. Mr. Annan was invited to the College to give a lecture on ‘Africa in the World Today’.
In his lecture, Kofi Annan emphasised the causal link between climate change and the global food crisis which is severely affecting Africa. “The most pressing challenge we face is food supply. We need action to tackle the immediate food crisis in Africa and the long-term impact that climate change will have on food supplies and agriculture across the continent", said Annan.
His speech, delivered yesterday, echoed some of the messages he delivered last month at the ‘Toward a Green Revolution in Africa’ conference in Salzburg, Austria. At that conference, Mr. Annan urged for “a uniquely African Green Revolution”. Mr. Annan wants to raise awareness about the importance of implementing a Green Revolution in Africa because of the continent’s “disproportionate exposure to climate risks”. He has called upon governments to help put in place social protection to help the poor of Africa cope with economic and climatic shocks.
The food crisis is being felt around the globe, including here in the UK, with many families struggling to cope with soaring food prices. The cost of basic staples such as milk, bread and rice have increased significantly. According to the Guardian, wheat prices have doubled between May 2007 and February 2008. This is an issue that requires a high level of international cooperation and commitment.
In Africa, however, the food riots that have occurred in countries such as Senegal and Burkina Faso haven’t just been about voicing discontent over higher food prices. Here, the food crisis is a question of life and death. I hope that Kofi Annan’s words will be taken seriously, and that immediate action will be taken to help transform farming and agriculture on the continent in light of the harmful effects of climate change.
In his lecture, Kofi Annan emphasised the causal link between climate change and the global food crisis which is severely affecting Africa. “The most pressing challenge we face is food supply. We need action to tackle the immediate food crisis in Africa and the long-term impact that climate change will have on food supplies and agriculture across the continent", said Annan.
His speech, delivered yesterday, echoed some of the messages he delivered last month at the ‘Toward a Green Revolution in Africa’ conference in Salzburg, Austria. At that conference, Mr. Annan urged for “a uniquely African Green Revolution”. Mr. Annan wants to raise awareness about the importance of implementing a Green Revolution in Africa because of the continent’s “disproportionate exposure to climate risks”. He has called upon governments to help put in place social protection to help the poor of Africa cope with economic and climatic shocks.
The food crisis is being felt around the globe, including here in the UK, with many families struggling to cope with soaring food prices. The cost of basic staples such as milk, bread and rice have increased significantly. According to the Guardian, wheat prices have doubled between May 2007 and February 2008. This is an issue that requires a high level of international cooperation and commitment.
In Africa, however, the food riots that have occurred in countries such as Senegal and Burkina Faso haven’t just been about voicing discontent over higher food prices. Here, the food crisis is a question of life and death. I hope that Kofi Annan’s words will be taken seriously, and that immediate action will be taken to help transform farming and agriculture on the continent in light of the harmful effects of climate change.
Thursday, 29 May 2008
The other Olympic Games
It has been a mixed few weeks for the 2012 Olympics with both some highs and some lows. Work has begun on the stadium three months ahead of schedule, with the Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Mayor of London Boris Johnson and Olympics Minister Tessa Jowell, all present to see construction begin. It will be early 2009 when the installation of the steel structures that support the Stadium roof begins.
Perhaps to help reach that moment, it was yesterday reported that a £2.2 billion emergency fund is having to be used to plug gaps that exist in the financing of the Games. The fund was previously “untouchable”, but is now required to deal with the effects of the credit crunch and falling house prices, which have impacted on a public private deal between Bovis Lend Lease, a project management and construction company, and the Olympic Authorities.
The road to hosting an Olympic Games is invariably never a smooth one, and that an emergency fund is already being relied upon, arguably, does not bode well for the future. However, other areas point to a more positive outlook: for example, application forms have long been available should you wish to apply to host an Olympic “Relocatable Venue”. Such an initiative could be crucial in establishing an Olympic legacy that reaches those beyond London.
Perhaps to help reach that moment, it was yesterday reported that a £2.2 billion emergency fund is having to be used to plug gaps that exist in the financing of the Games. The fund was previously “untouchable”, but is now required to deal with the effects of the credit crunch and falling house prices, which have impacted on a public private deal between Bovis Lend Lease, a project management and construction company, and the Olympic Authorities.
The road to hosting an Olympic Games is invariably never a smooth one, and that an emergency fund is already being relied upon, arguably, does not bode well for the future. However, other areas point to a more positive outlook: for example, application forms have long been available should you wish to apply to host an Olympic “Relocatable Venue”. Such an initiative could be crucial in establishing an Olympic legacy that reaches those beyond London.
It’s all over for the Billary show…
So why does Hilary Clinton (and her husband) continue to fight for the Democratic nomination?
Without delving into the complicated system that is the nomination process, Senator Obama’s lead is insurmountable in terms of delegates – pledged and super. While he might not have reached the magic threshold number, Hilary can not catch up.
Senator Clinton, to her credit is still winning primaries. As recently as last week she won Kentucky with a whopping majority. But is this resoluteness a show of defiance or, is the former First Lady playing a tactical game for long-term advantage, ignoring the detrimental effect it is having on her party? Having already loaned her campaign somewhere in the region of £5million, and with a number of her campaign managers moving on, what is her motivation?
One line of thought is that she may well believe that the Democrats should be entitled to a choice. However, with the primary process already stretched over several months and, more importantly, the Republican nomination all but wrapped up, the hurling of insults between two Democrats hardly adds value to their cause.
The other line of thought – the more cynical one – is that by hanging in the campaign, she is intentionally doing as much damage to her opponent so that he loses in November, and she will have another chance in 2012. This is something that she would never admit to and would not go down well with the millions of Democrats.
For the one time front-runner who appeared to have the nomination wrapped up before it even began, she has fought a nasty campaign against a formidable opponent who has managed to fundraise like never before and energise huge numbers of voters.
When in Philadelphia, Clinton compared herself to Rocky. But now is surely the time for her to hang up the gloves.
Greg
Without delving into the complicated system that is the nomination process, Senator Obama’s lead is insurmountable in terms of delegates – pledged and super. While he might not have reached the magic threshold number, Hilary can not catch up.
Senator Clinton, to her credit is still winning primaries. As recently as last week she won Kentucky with a whopping majority. But is this resoluteness a show of defiance or, is the former First Lady playing a tactical game for long-term advantage, ignoring the detrimental effect it is having on her party? Having already loaned her campaign somewhere in the region of £5million, and with a number of her campaign managers moving on, what is her motivation?
One line of thought is that she may well believe that the Democrats should be entitled to a choice. However, with the primary process already stretched over several months and, more importantly, the Republican nomination all but wrapped up, the hurling of insults between two Democrats hardly adds value to their cause.
The other line of thought – the more cynical one – is that by hanging in the campaign, she is intentionally doing as much damage to her opponent so that he loses in November, and she will have another chance in 2012. This is something that she would never admit to and would not go down well with the millions of Democrats.
For the one time front-runner who appeared to have the nomination wrapped up before it even began, she has fought a nasty campaign against a formidable opponent who has managed to fundraise like never before and energise huge numbers of voters.
When in Philadelphia, Clinton compared herself to Rocky. But now is surely the time for her to hang up the gloves.
Greg
Friday, 23 May 2008
Brown's Woes
It was, I’m afraid, with an air of inevitability that I read the paper this morning and discovered the Tories had won the by-election in Crewe and Nantwich. The swing to from Labour to Conservatives was 17.6%, and this in a seat held by Gwyneth Dunwoody since its creation in 1983.
We’ve not even reached the first year anniversary of Gordon Brown’s leadership, yet his authority, and future as Prime Minister, is repeatedly being questioned. Jack Straw has been cited as a possible “care-taker” Prime Minister, David Miliband as too young for now.
I can’t help but have a certain amount of sympathy for Mr. Brown – kept from the top job for so long, only to be made leader just as the global economic slowdown began, and a number of Labour’s policies implemented under Tony Blair began to falter. Furthermore, it can’t help that neither Mr. Blair, nor for that matter his wife, have not retreated from the spotlight.
However, opportunities exist for Mr. Brown to begin repairing his reputation this summer. The Olympics could yet provide a chance to show solidarity with human-rights advocates over Tibet, especially since he fudged the decision of how best to receive the Dalai Lama this week. Looking beyond the summer, a new American President may offer a breath of fresh air for Transatlantic relations, and fresh thinking on both Iraq and Afghanistan. That is of course assuming Brown still holds the keys to No. 10 come January 20th, when the new President is inaugurated.
We’ve not even reached the first year anniversary of Gordon Brown’s leadership, yet his authority, and future as Prime Minister, is repeatedly being questioned. Jack Straw has been cited as a possible “care-taker” Prime Minister, David Miliband as too young for now.
I can’t help but have a certain amount of sympathy for Mr. Brown – kept from the top job for so long, only to be made leader just as the global economic slowdown began, and a number of Labour’s policies implemented under Tony Blair began to falter. Furthermore, it can’t help that neither Mr. Blair, nor for that matter his wife, have not retreated from the spotlight.
However, opportunities exist for Mr. Brown to begin repairing his reputation this summer. The Olympics could yet provide a chance to show solidarity with human-rights advocates over Tibet, especially since he fudged the decision of how best to receive the Dalai Lama this week. Looking beyond the summer, a new American President may offer a breath of fresh air for Transatlantic relations, and fresh thinking on both Iraq and Afghanistan. That is of course assuming Brown still holds the keys to No. 10 come January 20th, when the new President is inaugurated.
Wednesday, 14 May 2008
Green Government
I came across an article this week highlighting that both HMRC and the Highways Agency were highlighting their green credentials at the recent Green IT event. The Department for Work and Pensions also had its green credentials promoted, by Government Chief Information Officer John Suffolk, following the Department’s reduction of servers by 2,500, and the subsequent reduction in its CO2.
IBM have recently reviewed the Treasury’s carbon management in IT, and changes such as rationalising datacenters through virtualisation, and installing network cards to remotely control PCs, mean the Department is now on track to meet the Government’s target of reducing CO2 emissions by 12.5 percent by 2010.
The Highways Agency has tackled this challenge by replacing standalone devices, for instance printers and photocopiers, with multi-function devices. Interestingly, the Highways Agency is also in discussion with sat-nav providers, exploring whether to allow drivers to access its latest information on the road network through in-car devices, thus reducing CO2 emissions from motorists.
Such promotion follows the 2007 Sustainable Development in Government Report, which assesses the performance of central government operations against the targets of the Framework for Sustainable Operations on the Government Estate, or (SOGE). In that, HMRC received an overall rating of three stars out of five, and the Highways Agency were not included. However, the HMRC’s performance was not unexceptional - of the 21 government departments, 12 reported poor or no progress on their targets.
Given the significant carbon emissions that an office can produce, looking at the energy consumption of IT systems is a crucial prerequisite of making significant reductions. The reporting and promotion of any green achievements by Government Departments could be one way to encourage this.
IBM have recently reviewed the Treasury’s carbon management in IT, and changes such as rationalising datacenters through virtualisation, and installing network cards to remotely control PCs, mean the Department is now on track to meet the Government’s target of reducing CO2 emissions by 12.5 percent by 2010.
The Highways Agency has tackled this challenge by replacing standalone devices, for instance printers and photocopiers, with multi-function devices. Interestingly, the Highways Agency is also in discussion with sat-nav providers, exploring whether to allow drivers to access its latest information on the road network through in-car devices, thus reducing CO2 emissions from motorists.
Such promotion follows the 2007 Sustainable Development in Government Report, which assesses the performance of central government operations against the targets of the Framework for Sustainable Operations on the Government Estate, or (SOGE). In that, HMRC received an overall rating of three stars out of five, and the Highways Agency were not included. However, the HMRC’s performance was not unexceptional - of the 21 government departments, 12 reported poor or no progress on their targets.
Given the significant carbon emissions that an office can produce, looking at the energy consumption of IT systems is a crucial prerequisite of making significant reductions. The reporting and promotion of any green achievements by Government Departments could be one way to encourage this.
Testing
Jim Knight, MP, the School’s Minister, came to the defence of school testing yesterday, after the Commons Select Committee for Children, Schools and Families released its quite critical report on Testing and Assessment. The Minister supported school testing arguing that it plays a very important role helping to prepare students for critical GCSEs and A-level exams later on.
Friday, 9 May 2008
Progressive Ideals
Progressive Ideals?
Tory leader David Cameron is claiming his party are the “champions of progressive ideals”. Cameron argues in the Independent that Labour MPs are awakening to a “painful reality”, recognising that in its longest continuous period in office, “Labour has done little to advance progressive ideals”, which he links to the 10p tax issue. Despite promising both social justice and economic efficiency, Cameron claims the government “has in fact delivered neither”.
In the fight against poverty, and in the pursuit of environmental sustainability, Cameron argues that conservative approaches are driving the intellectual agenda. The article ends with a strong message: “If you care about poverty, if you care about inequality, if you care about the environment – forget about the Labour Party. It has forgotten about you”. Cameron concludes, that if one is to count themselves a “true progressive”, voting Conservative is the answer - “only we can achieve real change”.
Given a recent YouGov/The Sun survey, increasing numbers of people are agreeing with such a message – a gap of 26 points now exists between the Conservatives and Labour, with the Conservatives on 49 per cent, Labour 23 per cent, and the Liberal Democrats on 17 per cent. It is now up to Gordon Brown to convince the British public that Cameron’s sentiments are wrong – and given both this poll and the recent electoral results, the Prime Minister is facing an uphill battle.
Tory leader David Cameron is claiming his party are the “champions of progressive ideals”. Cameron argues in the Independent that Labour MPs are awakening to a “painful reality”, recognising that in its longest continuous period in office, “Labour has done little to advance progressive ideals”, which he links to the 10p tax issue. Despite promising both social justice and economic efficiency, Cameron claims the government “has in fact delivered neither”.
In the fight against poverty, and in the pursuit of environmental sustainability, Cameron argues that conservative approaches are driving the intellectual agenda. The article ends with a strong message: “If you care about poverty, if you care about inequality, if you care about the environment – forget about the Labour Party. It has forgotten about you”. Cameron concludes, that if one is to count themselves a “true progressive”, voting Conservative is the answer - “only we can achieve real change”.
Given a recent YouGov/The Sun survey, increasing numbers of people are agreeing with such a message – a gap of 26 points now exists between the Conservatives and Labour, with the Conservatives on 49 per cent, Labour 23 per cent, and the Liberal Democrats on 17 per cent. It is now up to Gordon Brown to convince the British public that Cameron’s sentiments are wrong – and given both this poll and the recent electoral results, the Prime Minister is facing an uphill battle.
The Aftermath
With the aftermath of Labour’s terrible performance in the local and mayoral elections now fully registered, Labour suffering its worst losses since the 1960s - down 331 seats - and loosing the capital to Boris Johnson, it is now up to the Tories to demonstrate that their party can carry the momentum through to national elections. On May 1, voters sent out a clear message of dissatisfaction with the Government and a desire for change.
Thursday, 1 May 2008
Chicken Rescue
There is no escaping at the moment the idea of the responsible food consumer, both in terms of the environment and animal welfare, and particularly regarding chickens!
Therefore, I thought that I would let you know about a rather interesting trip I went on last weekend. I went with my mum to collect the chickens that she was rescuing and taking back to live in her garden in Greater London. The initiative is all part of the Battery Hen Welfare Trust The charity rescues battery hens from farms, prior to their slaughter, and rehomes them with members of the public.
My mum’s new chickens are currently somewhat feather bare, have some difficulty in walking and their combs look a bit worse for wear. Nevertheless, it will apparently not take too long for the hens to get back to full fitness, and they will still lay eggs. The most poignant thing is that, as they are used to being incarcerated in such small cages, they currently huddle together, but again this will change in time, and they clearly seem happier in their new home.
I think this scheme really works – it is a way to help improve animal welfare and bring environmental benefits (the hens are still laying eggs and therefore saving on transport costs to supermarkets) into the increasingly urbanised areas in which we live.
The long term aim of the charity is to diminish consumer demand for battery eggs whilst at the same time promoting British farmers using welfare friendly systems. This pro-industry policy is a vital element in ensuring the future is free range, with the consumer themselves taking responsibility for hen welfare. However, there is still only so much that the consumer can do, they can buy free range eggs, but what about all the other foods that contain egg products, such as mayonnaise and cakes? The food industry needs to make a stand in providing free range versions of their food products, giving consumers the choice to influence producer supply based on the products they purchase.
Therefore, I thought that I would let you know about a rather interesting trip I went on last weekend. I went with my mum to collect the chickens that she was rescuing and taking back to live in her garden in Greater London. The initiative is all part of the Battery Hen Welfare Trust The charity rescues battery hens from farms, prior to their slaughter, and rehomes them with members of the public.
My mum’s new chickens are currently somewhat feather bare, have some difficulty in walking and their combs look a bit worse for wear. Nevertheless, it will apparently not take too long for the hens to get back to full fitness, and they will still lay eggs. The most poignant thing is that, as they are used to being incarcerated in such small cages, they currently huddle together, but again this will change in time, and they clearly seem happier in their new home.
I think this scheme really works – it is a way to help improve animal welfare and bring environmental benefits (the hens are still laying eggs and therefore saving on transport costs to supermarkets) into the increasingly urbanised areas in which we live.
The long term aim of the charity is to diminish consumer demand for battery eggs whilst at the same time promoting British farmers using welfare friendly systems. This pro-industry policy is a vital element in ensuring the future is free range, with the consumer themselves taking responsibility for hen welfare. However, there is still only so much that the consumer can do, they can buy free range eggs, but what about all the other foods that contain egg products, such as mayonnaise and cakes? The food industry needs to make a stand in providing free range versions of their food products, giving consumers the choice to influence producer supply based on the products they purchase.
Wednesday, 30 April 2008
2012 - the next lap
This week saw the publication of the latest report by the Commons Culture, Media and Sport Committee on the London 2012 Games. In and amongst the 81 pages of the report, a number of interesting points were made.
While there has been some positive feedback from the report, there has been a large amount of criticism present.
For instance, the report criticised the Government for awarding a further £5.9 billion in funds without clarifying with the DCMS what will be delivered in return for the expenditure. Similarly, the DCMS came into criticism for having no way to evaluate the Olympic legacy from the Games, despite having highlighted this as one of the main benefits of hosting the Games. In relation to this, the report claimed that there was no clear strategy in place specifying exactly how sporting participation will be increased.
As equally damaging was the committee’s recognition that the budget increase (the original budget was £3.4 billion, the final figure £9.325 billion) has been damaging to confidence in the management of the programme. The phrase “spending money like water” has been doing the rounds.
More positively, the report did highlight that achievements thus far are to be commended, and that there were signs the organisers were working to a realistic timetable. This is welcome news, as once the Beijing Games are finished, public attention, and scrutiny will only intensify on the organisers of 2012.
While there has been some positive feedback from the report, there has been a large amount of criticism present.
For instance, the report criticised the Government for awarding a further £5.9 billion in funds without clarifying with the DCMS what will be delivered in return for the expenditure. Similarly, the DCMS came into criticism for having no way to evaluate the Olympic legacy from the Games, despite having highlighted this as one of the main benefits of hosting the Games. In relation to this, the report claimed that there was no clear strategy in place specifying exactly how sporting participation will be increased.
As equally damaging was the committee’s recognition that the budget increase (the original budget was £3.4 billion, the final figure £9.325 billion) has been damaging to confidence in the management of the programme. The phrase “spending money like water” has been doing the rounds.
More positively, the report did highlight that achievements thus far are to be commended, and that there were signs the organisers were working to a realistic timetable. This is welcome news, as once the Beijing Games are finished, public attention, and scrutiny will only intensify on the organisers of 2012.
Thursday, 24 April 2008
The 10p Question
Watching PMQs yesterday it crossed my mind – would it have been worse for Gordon Brown not to have backed down, and continued on his mad dash towards the abolition of the 10p tax rate? Or is there honour in making a U-turn, recognising that success is not a viable option, and beating a hasty retreat before any more damage is done to one’s leadership.
In this case I believe Mr. Brown made the right choice – yes, it supplied the Conservatives, and David Cameron, with plenty of ammunition for yesterday’s session, but the damage could have been significantly worse if he’d risked further fracturing his party over this issue.
Furthermore, a rebellion over the 10p tax band would arguably have affected another contentious policy issue that Labour is pushing ahead with - the extended period of detention for terror suspects. Mr. Brown already gives the impression of being an embattled Prime Minister to some, and countering that would be difficult if another row, similar to the one we have seen this week, erupts over an equally high-charged issue.
This affair is far from over, and it will be interesting to see whether Brown can move beyond this matter – questions are already emerging over the feasibility of the concessions he plans to make for those most affected by the 10p tax rate.
In this case I believe Mr. Brown made the right choice – yes, it supplied the Conservatives, and David Cameron, with plenty of ammunition for yesterday’s session, but the damage could have been significantly worse if he’d risked further fracturing his party over this issue.
Furthermore, a rebellion over the 10p tax band would arguably have affected another contentious policy issue that Labour is pushing ahead with - the extended period of detention for terror suspects. Mr. Brown already gives the impression of being an embattled Prime Minister to some, and countering that would be difficult if another row, similar to the one we have seen this week, erupts over an equally high-charged issue.
This affair is far from over, and it will be interesting to see whether Brown can move beyond this matter – questions are already emerging over the feasibility of the concessions he plans to make for those most affected by the 10p tax rate.
Questioning the value of Vitamins
I read an interesting, if somewhat worrying, article on BBC online last week that got me thinking. The review suggested that some vitamins, far from being good for you, may actually shorten your life. Is it time to throw out those dusty jars of multi-vitamins in the cupboard?
The review, of 67 studies, found ‘no convincing evidence’ that antioxidant supplements cut the risk of dying.
The trials involved 233,000 people who were either sick, or healthy and taking supplements for disease prevention. The scientists, at Copenhagen University, said that Vitamins A and E could interfere with the bodies natural defences. Vitamin A supplements were linked to a 16% increased risk of dying, beta carotene to a 7% increased risk, and Vitamin E to a 4% increased risk. It is as yet unclear why these vitamins may be having this negative effect, but the team speculates that beta-carotene may interfere with how the body uses fat. Vitamin C, occupant of oranges all over the world, did not seem to have any effect either way, but the scientists reckon that more work needs to be done in this vitamin.
This is not just an important matter for people’s health; the supplement market is worth over £330 million in the UK.
The Department of Health has said that people should try to get the vitamins they need from their diet and avoid taking large amounts of supplements. However, the Health Supplements Information Service, funded by the association which represents those that sell supplements, responded that people are not able to get everything they need from their diet.
As with many scientific reviews, these findings probably need to be looked at in more detail. Nevertheless, I still think that this highlights the more general issues around health and well being in this country – we should concentrate on eating well and exercising as much as possible – we used to survive without supplements, surely we still can now?
The review, of 67 studies, found ‘no convincing evidence’ that antioxidant supplements cut the risk of dying.
The trials involved 233,000 people who were either sick, or healthy and taking supplements for disease prevention. The scientists, at Copenhagen University, said that Vitamins A and E could interfere with the bodies natural defences. Vitamin A supplements were linked to a 16% increased risk of dying, beta carotene to a 7% increased risk, and Vitamin E to a 4% increased risk. It is as yet unclear why these vitamins may be having this negative effect, but the team speculates that beta-carotene may interfere with how the body uses fat. Vitamin C, occupant of oranges all over the world, did not seem to have any effect either way, but the scientists reckon that more work needs to be done in this vitamin.
This is not just an important matter for people’s health; the supplement market is worth over £330 million in the UK.
The Department of Health has said that people should try to get the vitamins they need from their diet and avoid taking large amounts of supplements. However, the Health Supplements Information Service, funded by the association which represents those that sell supplements, responded that people are not able to get everything they need from their diet.
As with many scientific reviews, these findings probably need to be looked at in more detail. Nevertheless, I still think that this highlights the more general issues around health and well being in this country – we should concentrate on eating well and exercising as much as possible – we used to survive without supplements, surely we still can now?
What renewables obligation?
According to the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, one of the main objectives of the Climate Change Bill - currently under review in the House of Commons - is “investment in low-carbon fuels and technologies, such as carbon capture and storage, wind, wave and solar power.”
So when I read the story in Saturday’s Guardian, Solar so good for our house, of how the Government cut the maximum grant for low-carbon microgeneration household schemes to £2,500 last year because of the popularity of the scheme, I was disappointed and believe this sends a worrying message about the Government’s commitment to low-carbon initiatives. Rather than decreasing the amount of money going to support low-carbon technologies, the government should be supporting such schemes as much as they can, certainly if they intend on meeting the 15% EU-set target of energy coming from renewable sources by 2020.
All of this sounds promising on the surface, but what the Guardian article revealed is that the
Friday, 18 April 2008
Morale boost from America
It hasn’t been an easy past couple weeks for Gordon Brown. As the Prime Minister tries to reassure the population that the economic crisis in the
So with the Prime Minister’s leadership skills being called into question and with the May elections just around the corner, I suspect Gordon Brown’s three-day visit to the United States may have come with a big sigh of relief – a chance to escape national scrutiny. The Prime Minister’s second visit to the
Tuesday, 15 April 2008
The London Mayoral Elections
There was much excitement around the offices of GBC last week, as both Boris Johnson and David Cameroon visited Richmond Upon Thames to promote the former’s Mayoral Election Candidacy.
To political novices who only know Mr. Johnson for his hilarious turns hosting panel shows, his candidacy might have come as something of a surprise. Instead, alongside his primary challengers Ken Livingstone and Brian Paddick, Boris has played his part in a tight and up until this point, difficult to predict, contest.
One of the areas Ken Livingstone’s tenure will be remembered for centres on the environment – in particular his introduction of the congestion charge. Should he win again on May 1st, he pledges to improve the environment further by introducing a £25 charge on the worst vehicles in the central London congestion charging zone, and a zero charge for the least polluting cars. In response, Boris pledges to scrap the proposed £25 charge and make the current system ‘fairer and more flexible’.
It is areas such as this, which are crucial to the everyday life of Londoners, where the election will be won and lost. Bookmakers recently have had Ken at 4-7, Boris and 5-4, and interestingly Brian Paddick, the Liberal Democrats candidate, at 16-1. It is Mr. Paddick, now considered a long-shot by most observers, who might surprise come the end of April – his background, experience, and the aversion of the electorate to either Ken or Boris may all come to count at the crucial hour.
To political novices who only know Mr. Johnson for his hilarious turns hosting panel shows, his candidacy might have come as something of a surprise. Instead, alongside his primary challengers Ken Livingstone and Brian Paddick, Boris has played his part in a tight and up until this point, difficult to predict, contest.
One of the areas Ken Livingstone’s tenure will be remembered for centres on the environment – in particular his introduction of the congestion charge. Should he win again on May 1st, he pledges to improve the environment further by introducing a £25 charge on the worst vehicles in the central London congestion charging zone, and a zero charge for the least polluting cars. In response, Boris pledges to scrap the proposed £25 charge and make the current system ‘fairer and more flexible’.
It is areas such as this, which are crucial to the everyday life of Londoners, where the election will be won and lost. Bookmakers recently have had Ken at 4-7, Boris and 5-4, and interestingly Brian Paddick, the Liberal Democrats candidate, at 16-1. It is Mr. Paddick, now considered a long-shot by most observers, who might surprise come the end of April – his background, experience, and the aversion of the electorate to either Ken or Boris may all come to count at the crucial hour.
Friday, 11 April 2008
Carbon Labelling
Tesco is getting in on the act with its carbon labelling scheme, which it will launch on the 30th April. It has developed the scheme with brands including Procter and Gamble, and Unilever. The scheme was announced at the Carton conference, organised by BPIF Cartons, on the 8th April.
Tesco has tackled 30 products so far, including orange juice, light bulbs, laundry, potatoes and tomatoes.
The question is though, whether people really understand these labelling schemes – is there not a call for a universal scheme across all products? So people can get used to looking at the carbon information just at they look at nutrition information now.
Consumers have a responsibility to help combat climate change, but they need the right information to enable them to do this.
Tesco has tackled 30 products so far, including orange juice, light bulbs, laundry, potatoes and tomatoes.
The question is though, whether people really understand these labelling schemes – is there not a call for a universal scheme across all products? So people can get used to looking at the carbon information just at they look at nutrition information now.
Consumers have a responsibility to help combat climate change, but they need the right information to enable them to do this.
Thursday, 10 April 2008
Access to Higher Education
John Denham, Universities Secretary, announced on Tuesday that all universities will be forced to reveal their admissions policies. This comes amid recent accusations of there being unfair practices in place, claiming that some universities are favouring applicants from privileged backgrounds, while others are said to be engaged in what is being called ‘social engineering’, granting easier access to students from state schools coming from the poorest backgrounds.
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