Change Course For Hamsterdam!

This must be the first time a UK passenger plane has been grounded by 160 Hamsters running amuck in the luggage hold (https://metro.co.uk/2024/11/17/aircraft-grounded-130-hamsters-run-riot-luggage-hold-22009613/). It's not exactly 'Snakes on a Plane' but beasties can cause problems on flights. Hamsters are pretty nifty at opening cages.

Wye, Oh Wye?

Chicken droppings contain more phosphates than any other animal manure. When these phosphates are washed into rivers, they cause eutrophication (algal growth). This starves fish and river plants of oxygen, producing dead zones. The Severn and Wye river valleys, are already home to many large Intensive Poultry Units (IPUs). More than 51 million chickens are currently industrially farmed on their river banks. Campaigners are currently trying to halt the building of yet another IPU in Shropshire. This would house nearly an additional 250,000 chickens. It makes no sense, to have such a high concentration of potential organic pollution adjacent to two important rivers, much utilised by anglers and water enthusiasts (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/nov/19/uk-intensive-farming-hotspots-79-times-more-chickens-than-people-data-shows-river-pollution-wye-severn). Agricultural pollution is a relatively little discussed danger to the UK's river systems. It certainly receives much less publicity than Water Company release of untreated sewage. IPUs generally get easy approval, because their construction is linked to jobs. This shouldn't, however, be the only consideration. There's a need to look after and start to repair our already ravaged natural environment. The last thing this area needs is another IPU!

A little More Explanation?

Wales introduced a residential area 20 miles per hour (mph) speed limit in 2023. It was an attempt to rebalance communities, so they were no longer dominated by cars. Will Hayward, notes that, in 9 months, it saved the country more than £45m, prevented almost 500 people being killed or injured, made residential areas more appealing (less polluted) places to live, as well as reducing car insurance premiums. The measure also continues to have the support of all Welsh emergency services. What's not to like? Strangely, the 20mph speed limit has become the most unpopular piece of law-making, in the history of the Senedd (Welsh Parliament). A petition opposing this measure, has reached almost 470,000 signatures. Hayward wonders why. He suggests that four of the main Facebook sites, opposing the change, clearly involve operatives with obvious political bias. Hayward also notes, however, that the Welsh government seem to have been short-sighted. Imposing this speed limit, cost around £32m (mainly on changed signage). Only £1.6m was spent, however, on explaining the policy to the populace (https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/nov/18/wales-20mph-speed-limit-lives-money-policy). Perhaps the Welsh government didn't think they needed to spend more money, explaining a supported manifesto commitment? They have made recent public pronouncements that, having 'listened', some roads will revert to 30mph. Hayward maintains that evidence-based policy does work. He opines, however, that you have to 'own it, explain it and stay the course'. There's always a political price to pay. In a world where facts and evidence matter less and less, this seems an important message!

True from False?

It seems like a good idea to check whether, in today's blizzard of false information, if you have a functional bullshit detector. It's, obviously, specially important if you write a blog on media treatment and science. Fortunately, my detector seems to be in fine working order. The Cambridge Misinformation Susceptibilility Test seems a reliable starting place. It seems to have most of the safeguards for users (you can delete or be anonymous). It tries to link the data to age, gender, nationality, political considerations (although the categories are rather 'American) and educational attainment (https://www.cam.ac.uk/stories/misinformation-susceptibility-test). It seems important for folk to test themselves periodically. They also, of course, need to ensure that the test they use is reliable and unbiased. It's probably just a matter of time before misleading versions come online!

It's a Dead Parrot!

Scientists (what do they know?) are generally agreed. Most think the Paris Accord of limiting global heating to 1.5 degrees Centigrade above pre-Industrial values is 'deader than a doornail'. 2024 is almost certain to be the first individual year above this threshold. The planet is on track for an elevation of 2.7 degrees Centigrade, with dramatic climate repercussions (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/nov/18/climate-crisis-world-temperature-target). We've known about the climate impact of anthropogenic (human generated) 'greenhouse gas' emissions for decades. Our rulers and shakers have simply been too slow to act. Some folk have (and still are) dialling-up the emissions for greater 'profits'. Folk need to be reminded of the following a) 1.5 degrees C was merely a 'guesstimate' in Paris for a 'safe' increase; b) 'tipping points' might mean there already can be no return to previous climate conditions; c) if a return to 'traditional' climates is possible, there will be a long, long time lag before any emissions reductions take effect; d) most countries haven't/ can't put mitigations in place for dealing with the likely climate change and e) the higher the global average temperature goes, the worse the consequences. 1.5 degrees C seems to be like Monty Python's Norwegian Blue. Let's hope 2.7 doesn't go the same way!

Feeling It 'In Our Thames Waters'

Thames Water is the largest of England's privatised water companies. For decades, this entity has accumulated debts, directing much of its monopoly income to shareholder dividends and CEO bonuses/'golden hellos'. Dealing with leaks and infrastructure upgrades should have been its major priorities. The ability of Thames Water to now keep London's taps flowing, is reported to be 'on a knife edge'. The company is said to urgently need £23bn for 'repairs', having failed to tackle serious safety concerns or to upgrade its vital IT services. Floods, explosions and asbestos removals all need to be dealt with (https://www.theguardian.com/business/2024/nov/17/thames-water-supply-knife-edge-23bn-repairs-needed). What's the point of a water company, that doesn't do its job? For much too long, England's privatised water companies were treated as 'cash cows'. Water companies have even, in some cases, deliberately polluted lakes and rivers to boost their profits. Although,'bailing out' Thames Water by its users, shouldn't be an option, folk can't live without clean, potable water.

Winter Waste?

From November to March, in the UK, an extra 5000 tonnes of household waste is sent to landfill or for incineration. This is a 40% increase on values seen in the warmer months. This is because the wetter, winter period makes effective separation by recycling plants of 'co-mingled' items, next to impossible. 'Co-mingling' is the practice of requiring households to put all their recycling in single containers. Householders can be (and in many cases are) required to separate their paper, plastic, glass, metal, as well as food and garden waste. This prevents contamination, reducing the need for landfill and incineration. The UK government will have to rule on whether to abolish 'co-mingling' in England (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/nov/17/how-winter-makes-recycling-harder-with-40-jump-in-contamination). Most householders can and will separate the items for recycling, if they are helped and given clear instructions. The variations between the practices adopted by different councils doesn't help them. There could also be more use (as in The Netherlands) of communal drop off points for certain materials within walking distance of people's homes.