Seeing the Changes 1532

Tawny mining bee (Andrena fulva) on mint in Loughor.

What a Plane Load of Stray Cats and Dogs Tells the World About British Values?

Gaby Hinsliff (Journalist) thinks that news of a chartered plane leaving Afghanistan, with a load of cats and dogs, will confirm to the world the weirdness of 'British values' (https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/aug/30/britain-dogs-afghan-people-pen-farthing (https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/aug/30/britain-dogs-afghan-people-pen-farthing). The dogs and cats flown out, were former strays from an ex-Marine's Nowzad animal refuge in Kabul. The animals were loaded on to a plane, whilst the refuge's Afghan workers were left behind (along with thousands of other people who wanted to flee). Soldiers had to take time to process the loading of animals, on to a plane paid for by public donations. The plane received a rapturous reception from some people, when it landed in the UK. Presumably, the animals will now all have to go into prolonged quarantine. Hinsliff thinks the episode confirms that sections of the British public hold foreign (human) lives in (relative) contempt. Favouring of animals over people also applies 'at home'. The UK has a Royal Society for the Protection of Animals but only a National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children.

Rugby Brains

A University of South Wales study reveals that player's brains are damaged by a single season of professional rugby (https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2021/aug/31/rugby-players-brains-affected-in-single-season-study-suggests). Prior to this study, people were mainly concerned about the effects of cumulative concussions. This is always a danger in a sport, with an emphasis on speed and physical contact. The Welsh study revealed, however, that the players had reduced blood flow to their brains. This would reduce the brain's supply of both oxygen and glucose (that organ has no stores). The players also showed evidence of impaired cognitive function, reducing their ability to plan and adapt their game. There may be partial solutions if the wearing of head protection was made mandatory. The number of substitutions could also be increased, as tired players may not assume the right postures to limit damage. Further studies are planned to look at the effects of long-term playing on issues like dementia.

Genesis of the Greek Wildfires?

Yanis Yaroufakis (a Former Finance Minister of Greece) naturally accepts that climate change has played a major role in Greece's wildfires. They have devastated 100,000 hectares of ancient pine forests. He suggests, however, that economic factors also had a role (https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/aug/29/greece-wildfires-political-failure-climate-emergency). Yaroufakis points out that, after the Second World War, many Greek villagers emigrated to other countries. Many of those who did not emigrate, moved to Greater Athens to work. Greater Athens, he says, became a 'concrete jungle'. In the 1960s and 1970s, some of these former villagers, wanted a partial return to the countryside. They built summer homes in the forests. Regulation of this building seems to have been virtually nonexistent. Most people, in their summer homes, had no traditional knowledge of how to manage the forest to minimise the chance of fire. In addition, Yaroufakis says that Greece's bankruptcy led to imposed cuts, resulting in, for example, a 20% reduction of fire fighters. He is also worried by current government plans to replace traditional pines with fast-growing alien tree species. Effective management of the forests, would certainly reduce the likelihood of devastating fires. Such management cannot, however, be done 'on the cheap'. The fires are going to be a recurrent risk in Greece and planning is needed.

Weight Loss Harder For Some?

It has long been suspected that losing weight is physiologically harder for some folk than for others. This view is now supported by a study on data obtained from more than 1700 adults (https://www.theguardian.com/society/2021/aug/27/losing-weight-through-exercise-may-be-harder-for-obese-people-research-says). Weight loss occurs (forget trendy diets!), when the calories taken into the body, after food intake, are exceeded by those burned in total energy expenditure. Total energy expenditure was assumed to be a simple sum of the energy used in exercise and that needed by the body for its basic metabolism. The study suggests, however, that estimates of total daily expenditure are lower than this sum. Increasing levels of activity by exercising more, seems to result in the body conserving baseline energy. This energy, expended on general metabolism, is limited, over a much longer period than the time taken to exercise. For people with a normal Body Mass Index (BMI), 72% of the calories used in exercise are reflected in their total energy expenditure. This figure is, however, only 50% for obese people (those with the highest BMIs). Consequently, even if their food intake is the same, obese people will get less benefit from taking the same amount of exercise. This slows down weight loss and can be very demotivating!

Breaking Away From Blutwurst in Berlin

Berlin's four Universities are served by 34 canteens and cafes. It has been decided to change the food on offer to students in those establishments. The menus will prioritise attempting to counter climate change (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/aug/31/berlins-university-canteens-go-almost-meat-free-as-students-prioritise-climate). For four days a week, the menu options will be 68% vegan; 28% vegetarian and 2% fish-based, with a single meat dish. Seeds and pulses, rather than sausage and veal, will become major ingredients of these dishes. These student dietary changes are not limited to Berlin. Across Germany, 30-50% of student menu items are now vegetarian options. This is a highly impressive development. If done well, it could change the eating habits of a cohort of influential young folk for a lifetime, greatly reducing 'greenhouse gas' emissions. Germans now just need to be weaned off their dependence on imported natural gas?

Social Housing Versus Green Spaces

Real tension is arising in many parts of London, between the need of councils to build more social housing and the desire of residents to retain what little green space they have (https://www.theguardian.com/society/2021/aug/30/protests-grow-against-new-council-homes-on-green-spaces-in-london). Nimby ('Not In My Back Yard') is a term often applied to people who resist 'necessary' development. In areas like Lewisham, Kilburn and Peckham, councils are keen to build new housing to take people out of bed and breakfast accommodation. This is often easiest to do on land already owned by those councils. This seems to frequently involve removing mature trees, reducing the sizes of exercising areas, repurposing gardens etc. The residents feel that the quality of their environment is being sacrificed. They certainly cannot be all be dismissed as 'Nimbys'. Residents point out that many of their houses and flats do not have gardens. They also maintain that some of the proposed areas for building, are spaces where they have traditionally met and played. Some are in areas where atmospheric pollution is already high. Perhaps there needs to be a wider consideration of where the essential social housing can go, whilst retaining as much as possible green space? The Covid19 pandemic ought to have taught councils about the need to keep areas 'liveable'.

'Not the Cow But the How'?

Nicolette Hahn Niman is an American Environmental lawyer, who married a cattle rancher (https://www.theguardian.com/food/2021/aug/30/its-not-the-cow-its-the-how-why-a-long-time-vegetarian-became-beefs-biggest-champion). Although Niman was vegetarian for 33 years, she eventually took up cattle ranching herself. She has now become a spokesperson for 'ethical' beef production. Niman makes the point that small-scale rearing of cows, if they are allowed to graze naturally, can be relatively good for the land. She argues that a distinction has to be made between that approach and the intensive rearing of grain-fed cows. Niman even claims that rearing freely-grazing cows, can be carbon neutral. She says the approach has benefits compared with intense growing of crops on ploughed land. Niman also claims, that many of the negative health consequences of meat and dairy, are down to people eating highly-processed food. One issue was never raised in her account. This is the cow's inevitable release of methane, from its digestive tract. Methane is a much more potent 'greenhouse gas', than carbon dioxide. I wonder why she never makes reference to it?

'Astrology For Businessmen'?

The Myers-Briggs Company is a $20m per year business (https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2021/aug/30/myers-briggs-test-history-personality-types). The company's wealth is due to its control of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) test. The MBTI was developed in the Seond World War. It is loosely based on Carl Jung's 'theory' (hypothesis might be a better word) of personality. Jung decided that people showed preferences in 4 dichotomies. These were extroversion/introversion; intuition/sensing; thinking/feeling and judging/perceiving. This resulted in 16 'types', each with its own strengths and weaknesses. The MBTI appears to be popular, because it signifies a role for everyone. The test is much used in some business and academic circles. MBTI's basic problem, however, is that Jung's 8 categories are not especially clear (or accepted). Personality may not depend on these 8. The test also allocates people either/or within each dichotomy rather than determining the intensity of the predisposition. People can be somewhat introverted or extremely introverted. Although it may appeal to some, it seems very restricting to allocate people to roles based on this test.

Some of My Favourite Pictures From Westonbirt Arboretum

A Generational Divide on Climate Change?

It is often claimed that, only the young (because they are more likely to be affected), care deeply about climate change. Baby boomers are said to be (selfishly) relaxed about the issue. A relatively modest UK survey of 500 people over 50, suggests this is not quite the case (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/aug/30/over-50s-want-climate-crisis-addressed-even-if-it-leads-to-high-prices). The survey, by Rest Less, revealed that almost two thirds of their respondents wanted ministers to move much faster on climate initiatives. They wanted more action and less talk, even if this meant that products and services would, over time, be more expensive and/or harder to access. The finding is encouraging but it would be interesting to see whether this attitude was common to most over 50's in the country. Reasonably well-heeled people, who can afford to pay extra, might respond very differently to those closer to the breadline? It does, however, suggest that support for environmental change more widespread across generations than was assumed.

Sport As a Commodity?

Sportswriter, Emma John, points out that games (Association football, American football, Athletics, Baseball, Cricket, Formula One, Golf, Rugby, Tennis etc, etc) were 'invented for leisure, pleasure and recreation'. She bewails the fact that most sport is now viewed by its 'administrators', as a product to be 'sold and marketed incessantly to bolster the bottom line' (https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/aug/29/enough-already-sport-needs-to-slow-down-and-rein-in-its-endless-lust-for-growth). John points out that many of the administrators in dominant sports, have been recruited from business and banking. Bonuses are a standard method of recruiting and rewarding people in these sectors. The 'managerial talent', in many sports, appear to be still fixated on getting 'their' bonuses. Their sport/game must always be 'conquering new markets', devising new formats and/or seeking inclusion in the Olympic Games, for them to achieve their rewards. John thinks that much of this activity is actually to the detriment of the participants and/or the spectators. There is, however, an additional problem. As 'Big sport' is always keen to encourage the spread of its particular commodity to every corner of the globe, it is generating enormous (and growing?) quantities of 'greenhouse gases'. If we are to seriously challenge climate change, the excesses of sports need to be reined back.

A Qualification in Natural History?

The Oxford, Cambridge and RSA (OCR) examining board are proposing a new General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) qualification in 'Natural History' (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/aug/29/could-you-spot-a-grampy-pig-schools-could-soon-offer-natural-history-gcse). If approved, the GCSE will be the first 'new' subject since 'Computer Science' appeared in 2014. GCSE's are the examinations that secondary school children in the UK take, before (possibly) going onto study for examinations ('A' levels in England and Wales) to qualify for University entrance etc. It is argued, not unreasonably, that people of the UK need a better appreciation of biodiversity and ecology. It is certainly true that many young children have little understanding of the natural world around them. Most cannot give accurate names to common flowers and animals. It is to be hoped, however, that the new qualification will not (if approved), simply turn out to be a watered-down version of Biology (minus the 'hard bits'). How it fits in with the rest of the school curriculum is also unclear. Will students opting for 'Natural History' still study 'Science' at GCSE level? Will graduates in GCSE Natural History, be able to go onto study 'A' level Biology? It generally seems to be a good idea but clarification is needed.

Some of My Favourite Pictures From South Wales (Minus the Gower)