What's With Politicians?

Do politicians ever think?

Mr Pickles want localism but seems intent on driving refuse collection from the centre.

The "greenest government ever" wants to raise motorway speed limits.

Planning is supposed to be moving to local determination - but with a centrally imposed presumption in favour of development.

Mr Milliband defines himself via two negatives - he's not Mr Blair and he's not Mr Brown. So that's alright then isn't it?

Come on guys - get a grip!

Late But Welcome

I know I'm often behind the times but the Ecologist seems to be even worse. It has recently published a review of Fred Pearce's "When The Rivers Run Dry" which I bought and read an age ago.

However, it's no bad thing to be reminded of this work. It's a very readable account and one that should not be overlooked. I urge you to get a copy.

Mobiles and Cancer

There's yet another report on mobiles 'phones and the cancer risk reported in a recent Ecologist. This one, by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, plumps for classifying mobiles as "possibly carcinogenic" (so, in the same catch-all bracket as, say, coffee). I've studied this subject quite a lot since we had a huge furore in our village a few years back over the proposal to mount a new transmission mast locally, and from everything I've read the IARC conclusion is about all one could expect right now.

So, how should one behave? The answer is, surely, to adhere to the precautionary principle. Most people would not want to be without their mobiles so moderate use, wired headphones and texting rather than calling would seem to be the answers. Meanwhile I, for one, am participating in the long-term COSMOS project - the sort of assessment that is required to provide any more definitive view.

Baaa!

Dreadful news! The "Meat Eater's Guide" reports that my favourite meat - lamb - is responsible for 39.3kg CO2e per kg eaten - the worst of all meats. Can I hide behind the fact that this is US research, that little lamb is eaten in the US and therefore the stats are likely to be biased? Or should I dig up my mint patch now?