This blog may help people explore some of the 'hidden' issues involved in certain media treatments of environmental and scientific issues. Using personal digital images, it's also intended to emphasise seasonal (and other) changes in natural history of the Swansea (South Wales) area. The material should help participants in field-based modules and people generally interested in the natural world. The views are wholly those of the author.
Saturday, 12 September 2020
They Might be Inconvenient but are Extinction Rebellion 'Organised Crime'?
Extinction Rebellion (XR) is an organisation intent on drawing attention to what they perceive as a failure of government to take decisive action on the urgent environmenttal challenges (Climate Change, Loss of Biodiversity, Pollution, Spread of Diseases et cetera) that we currently face. They contend (not unreasonably) that the government is much too slow to act and that much of the media is in the hands of multimillionaires who have vested (i.e. financial interests) in keeping things exactly as they are. These media moguls, via their written support and financial donations, clearly 'have the ear' of the ruling bodies. XR is a body that uses non-violent protest and organises 'events' to try to get its message across to people who otherwise' turn a tin ear' (as it doesn't suit their objectives). I agree with many other people who have expressed the view that attempting to classify XR as 'organised crime' (like the Mafia) is wholly inappropriate. They neither injure people nor do they make illegal money from their activities). Non-violent protest is allowable in this country (at least when I last looked). Some of XR's activities (such as blocking the printing and delivery of newspapers in our 'free, press) might be inconvenient but is it violent crime? I expect, the group might be mindful of the scientific claims that we have only a few years to put things right, if the looming environmental damage isn't going to be irreversible. I suspect that XR reckon that we haven't got time to work for democratic change, to put more environmentally- conscious people into power? Rather than 'squash' XR by criminalisong it, I would rather government took its contribution to the stewardship of the planet a bit more seriously.
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Seeing the Changes 2104
Funnel fungi ( Clitocybe spp) at Bynea.
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Greater spearwort ( Ranunculus lingua ) has been used in traditional medicine to treat rheumatism, skin conditions and digestive problems.
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Green buckwheat ( Fagopyrum tartaricum ) is also called 'Tartar buckwheat'. It's a domesticated food plant, producing kernels. ...
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Daily shots of my fully compostable Oyster mushroom pot, received for Christmas. Omelettes ahoy!
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