Environment is...

Some thoughts on what is meant by the term 'environment':

Aye! But for what??

Whatever your political views you have to admit that this situation is ludicrous. What kind of MPs are content to cast their vote without knowing what the vote is about? Sheep are more thoughtful and independent-minded it seems.

Caroline Lucas Scandal that many MPs have no idea what they're voting on

Thoughts of a Wall St. occupier

So little about this in the media generally, so was pleased to see something here:

Thoughts of a Wall St. occupier Red Pepper blog Red Pepper

Blog Action Day 2011, Oct 16 - Food

Since 2007, Blog Action Day has focused bloggers around the world to blog about one important global topic on the same day. Past topics have included water, climate change and poverty.

This year, Blog Action Day will be held on October 16, which coincides with World Food Day, so naturally our 2011 theme is FOOD

Find out more about Blog Action Day

To take part in Blog Action Day all you need to do is register your blog and then on October 16, 2011 post your blog about food with the #BAD11 tag.

Bigger Bristol??

Bristol's Tory leader Cllr Peter Abraham, says the council stands in the way of city interests but wants to extend control under one bigger Bristol authority to Kingswood, Keynsham, Portishead*... This potentially spreads the problems still further. He's been a very prominent feature of local politics on the council for decades but it appears it has not occurred to him that he is therefore part of the problem. He refers to the need for a new order so maybe voters should start by getting rid of him and the rest of the old order.

...Mr Abraham wants Bristol to be ambitious but feels the council often works against the city's best interests rather than for them.
He said: "I think my job as leader of the Conservative group is to get this council as a credible council.
"Bristol is a great place to work and live and even in times of great economic difficulties we are successful.
"But Bristol is successful in spite of the city council not because of it.
"I also want to be realistic. This is a city that seems to promise and not deliver.
"I think that's the perception. I think we tell people we're going to do things before realising we can't do them.
"How long have politicians been promising an arena? Then we had the Knowle West regeneration, with pages of Anthony Negus saying no one would be interested in doing it any other way.
"Then within three months it's all changed. Why don't we get it right?
"What I want is a new order in this city."


*Let's make Bristol bigger This is Bristol

Why throw £75 billion into a banking black hole?

The Bank of England today announced that it is to inject a further £75bn into the economy through quantitative easing.

Responding to the decision, Brighton Pavilion MP Caroline Lucas said:

"While it's clear that quantitative easing is one of the only options left to get our ailing economy off its knees, the Bank of England's decision to usher in £75bn worth of unregulated QE is problematic.

"Unless we impose constraints on private banks to ensure the money reaches the real economy, we're effectively throwing money into a banking black hole - a recipe for systemic economic failure and further social inequality.

"What we need is properly regulated quantitative easing directed towards actually creating jobs, increasing lending to small businesses and facilitating the move towards a green economy.

"A job creation strategy like the Green New Deal, for example, would ultimately pay for itself by generating incomes and boosting emerging green industries.

"As the average annual energy bill reaches a shocking new high of around £1,000 per household, surely now is the time to consider a green quantitative easing programme to help fund energy efficiency solutions such as home insulation to help keep people's bills down, and create hundreds of thousands of jobs in the process."

Caroline Lucas Caroline calls for green quantitative easing as Bank of England announces £75bn injection