Waste Waste

The report (http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/jan/07/waste-disposal-environment-recycling) that the 'credit crunch' has led to a dramatic fall in prices for waste paper, plastics, metals and bottles should not be used as an argument against recycling. I appreciate that economics (along with the energy costs of re utilising material) are issues (the former excellent prices for UK waste in China were certainly a strong stimulus) but, without recycling, there would still be a need for disposal of masses of material. Burning (presumably with effective carbon capture) to generate energy might be appropriate for some materials and locations but land fill disposal has many short term and long term problems. It seems short-termism to condemn recycling simply because some of the collected materials have to currently (admittedly at a cost) be stored.

Going Cuckoo Over the Cuckoo

There seems to be a lot of excitement about a BBC film on the European cuckoo (Cuculus canorus) (http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00gmxl7) in which the bird is described as "a cheat, a thief and a killer". The clip of the 'murderous' chick throwing the host's chick out of the nest was, apparently, too rich for breakfast time TV! I think that people are getting a bit anthropocentric about the bird's interesting lifestyle. The first thing to note is that brood parasitism (the taking over of parental care and/or resources) is quite widespread in the Animal Kingdom (it's certainly not limited to birds) and obligate brood parasitism (where the animal is incapable of rearing its own young) is not limited to the cuckoo. So far as the cuckoo chick is concerned, killing the young of another species of bird is not 'murder'. It is simply ensuring that it doesn't have to share the resource of parental foraging, an activity that probably couldn't rear the cuckoo chick and natural fledglings (so it's not unlike a parasitic wasp utilising the tissues of a caterpillar). Certainly, this is no 'crueler' than a bird of prey chick consuming a smaller nest mate (from a second egg laid as an 'insurance policy'). A predator eating its prey, a gut parasite consuming the host from the inside, a caterpillar being raised in an ant colony and a virus replicating in host tissues are no less exploiting! A commentator intelligently raised the issue of why the cuckoo chick doesn't inappropriately imprint on its host species as a potential mate etc. It appears that most of this bird's behaviour is programmed (they effectively don't have real parents or siblings to copy). The fact that brood parasitism can be quite ubiquitous and opportunistic is further illustrated by the fact that quite a high percentage of human 'fathers' are genetically unrelated to their 'offspring'. The habit of the photographed Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus) of depositing additional eggs in the nests of their neighbours or even in the nest of a nearby Coot (Fulica atra) is also brood parasitism (although not, in this case, obligate). The whole process of brood parasitism is just a remarkable method of exploiting available resources.

100 Out!

It has been reported that panic buying of 100 watt tungsten light bulbs is occurring in the UK (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7817131.stm) in response to an EU directive that will outlaw their manufacture (and sale?) by September 2009. This is, of course, part of the drive to reduce energy use and to curb carbon dioxide emissions in the region (leading to strap lines a la Churchill about "The lights are going out across Europe (again)"). Some of the public questioned don't seem to like the new 'greener' bulbs on the basis of a) cost and/or b) the quality/quantity of light they emit. It is claimed that costs will come down and that the new bulbs will produce as much light as the old (in time?). Tungsten bulbs have been with us for more than 100 years and it certainly seems that there is a need for an effective 'selling' of the new technology based on more than energy or cost savings. After all, people apparently still find candles more 'romantic' than electric lighting. Are we going to see contraband 100 watt tungsten bulbs smuggled in from foreign parts or manufactured in clandestine factories?

Rats Come in From the Cold

As we speak, a wild rat is hanging from the bird peanut dispenser in my garden. These relatively ubiquitous and innovative animals have been in the news recently (with a BBC claim that the current cold spell in the UK has led to a great increase in call outs to rodent pest controllers). The cold snap increases the need for both shelter and food, making rats likely to invade human habitations and places like chicken runs where there are luxurious conditions for colonies of these commensal beasts (they tend to get more noticed than mice). The rats has no concept of ownership, so my peanuts are fair game so far has he is concerned.

Detoxing the Detox 'Cures'

The organisation 'Sense About Science' has examined some of the claims made by 11 sellers of detox 'cures' for seasonal over-indulgence available in respectable UK shops(http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2009/jan/05/detox-science). These included drinks, dietary supplements, special patches (for the feet) and a 'detox brush' that allegedly "stimulates the lymphatic system to help remove impurities and toxins from your skin". None of the 'treatments' appeared to have a clearly defined scientific basis (but when has this ever stopped sales to believers?). The scientists involved maintain (not unreasonably) that reducing smoking and alcohol ingestion might be more effective strategies. One might also add that watching what one eats might also be a good idea along with taking a bit of exercise. Our kidneys and liver (if they are in good working order) are excellent detox machines but the 'cures' may have placebo effects that help some individuals.

Boring, Boring?

The news (http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2009/jan/05/ofsted-boring-teachers) that OFSTED is to target 'boring teachers' as the claimed source of deterioration in the behaviour of children seems worthy of comment. The individual incomprehensibly interviewed (Christine Gilbert) maintained that 'research' she and others had carried out in a previous incarnation (as a Local Authority Director of Education) on a possible link between boredom and achievement had provided 'strong evidence' that much of it (the bad behaviour?) was (caused by?) boredom. It is certainly the case that pupils, students and teachers can be demotivated by boring presentations but it seems odd to base a whole policy initiative on one presumably self-fulfilling 'prophecy' for which no details are presented. How good is the study and did it consider a range of ages? I think it's worth raising a few complications. Firstly, I believe that teaching is most effective when there are at least two active participants. Unfortunately, some potential recipients apparently believe being bored is cool (such that getting them to admit to being even mildly interested in any topic is difficult). This can demotivate the teacher. Secondly, some material (although important and career-enhancing) is simply less interesting than other topics (so one might end up rating the material rather than the teacher). I appreciate that there can be innovative approaches even for 'dull' material but these take time, extra energy and resources. Thirdly, the teacher may have to work with individuals predisposed to boredom by their home and earlier school experiences. I would be interested to learn what people think on these issues.

Seeing the Changes 161

The chill and the duration of the local cold snap was emphasized by the appearance of mini ice floes on the Loughor estuary. It must be at least 25 years since there were similar scenes here!