Discussing topics to do with Ulverston

Mark Westall

2012-01-28T18:07:00.002Z

I've been asked to publicise the fact that Mark is missing and everyone is concerned for this friendly guy.

You can read the report in the Evening Mail here.

And a further report in the Westmorland Gazette here

I'm told that he went up to his room in his mother's house in North Lonsdale Road South Ulverston at 9:30 in the evening. When his mother checked later the same evening he was gone and hasn't been seen reliably since. He is the habit of seeking solitude and could well be somewhere 'living' locally ; equally well he could be anywhere.

If you come across him in any way please contact the police so that his family can make contact.

Talent in Ulverston

2012-01-28T13:36:00.002Z

Isn't wonderful that we have such talented people living in our town?

An outstanding example is the person behind the thinking and doing of the blog featured on the right menu which focusses on the positive things in life - something we all need when so many, including myself, focus on the negative.

Thoughts and Songs does this, not only with the imaginative use of words but also with the visual with lovely photos and video and even more with the sound of music created all by the one person.

The whole package is truly special.

Sadly I have a streak in me that quickly looks at what is missing - it reflects my background - I constantly search and aim for an increasingly higher standard of things around me. I say 'sadly' because it can be painful to be like that; but this is the way I want to be, because on the flip side comes the exhilaration of very intense enjoyment.

On the above blog, I make the comment:

"I find what is said here deeply disturbing."

and "the statements you make, cause my hair to stand on end – so to speak."

So what's the problem? It is my gut reaction to the following statements:

"It is another thing entirely to kill animals in cold blood, in the name of scientific research. We all know that difference, it is why the US justice system differentiates between murder in the first degree (premeditated) and in the second (not). It is why sociopaths are so scary.

A society that treats animals as resources to use when it suits them is a sociopathic society, an unethical, immoral society. "

Now comes the logic - Why do I have this gut feeling?

The first thing is to try and unpick what the words mean.

I believe very strongly that I need to treat all life around me with respect. I do not believe that humans have "God given rights" to look at themselves as a special case in the world of the living. In fact, standing back at looking at the span that the earth will be in existence we will be part of it for what will seem like a spit second. Beetles, I believe will be still thriving when all trace of animals that resemble humans have long gone.

However in my understanding of the words, respect does not preclude "Killing in cold blood" and hence the use of animals in scientific research when this is thought necessary to for instance develop drugs.

"Killing in cold blood" is an emotive way of saying "devoide of emotions and using reason alone" but reason can lead us to take decisions that are extremely painful to us emotionally and should not be shirked for this reason.

I believe that we have some very caring thoughtful people who have in the past ( and who still continue) gone into work each day to inflict pain and hardship on animals in order to develop drugs that will save peoples lives. People who have witnessed people and children stricken down with terrible diseases so that they have devoted their lives to prevent this happening.

Thus I feel that it is unthoughtful and cruel to label these people as "sociopaths" and part of an unethical immoral society.

On the other hand - and in practice this is a very complex question - there are many many cases where humans are not treating animals with respect - where there is no moral justification if we believe we all have equal rights. Inflicting pain for food and for research for trivial products as in food using battery growth of hens, pigs, fish and the superficial use of cosmetics.

I'm still trying to sort my thoughts out - but this is a start.

Some may say that I'm being nitpicky as what is said us "in the name of scientific research" but later on I understand the meaning to be all scientific research.

I believe one needs to be very careful with broad generalisations.

Sadly the above detracts from the main thrust of what is said. Something I firmly believe in. What I read on the animal aid web site is something I for the most part support.

You will find it even stranger when I admit that I share the doubts of a friend of mine who questions the validity of animal testing research.

So lets speak out firmly but with a respectful attitude to everyone concerned: both animals and humans.

My thinking continued: -

Gut reactions are something to be treasured. One often finds it difficult to unpick what rational basis they are based on.

They reflect our deepest emotions which have developed over our whole lives. We act by them all the time. They are based on the summation of the combination of doing and thinking, thinking and doing: an endless cycle.

The person writing the blog in question is no doubt very talented as I said at the beginning but the thoughts expressed in this recent blog are consistent with previous postings. For me, they reflect what is going on in the mind of someone who lacks focus.

Why have previous threads been abandoned ?

Surely to develop a healthy mind which is at peace with itself, one needs to take small steps at a time and gradually build up over a lifetime a life style that is as consistent as possible.

What I see here is a series of massive targets that are then abandoned because they are unattainable. Result, one lives a life of failure.

For me one sets targets that are 95% attainable all the time. Success then leads to increased confidence to tackle gradually more and more difficult goals.

What I witness is someone trying to climb Everest when Hoad would be more appropriate.

For instance, on the issue of treating animals, can't we settle for something like supporting the existing fight with TescoTesco and then move on to the Co-op to improve its standards.

For our own sanity we need to tackle problems where we can achieve a result rather than battle with windmills.

Allegedly the above blog "Focusses on the positive things in life".

The song certainly does but what about the thinking.

Having read the blog, does one feel that one has been focussing on the stated theme?

The Sun !

2012-01-28T10:16:00.000Z

It really does exist!

A lovely cold but clear sunny day.

Time to get down to the allotment or out for a walk if at all possible.

.

Natterjacks was packed tonight

2012-01-21T23:30:00.000Z

Lots of talented musicians played.

A good place to be.

Bringing up children

2012-01-21T11:31:00.001Z

I was fascinated by this review of the differences in the way the French bring up their children to that in Britain and the States.

I'm all for helping children to learn how to deal with frustration and give their parents an easier life - aren't you?

Government Idiocy

2012-01-20T10:27:00.001Z

How does it make any sense to make savings by closing down Furness Enterprise?

I read in the Westmorland Gazette that after 21 years of successful operation in helping thousands of people to find work in this area by assisting small businesses to set up in this area . . . .

At a time when we are all struggling to get to find jobs, the very organisation that we need to help small businesses stand up on their feet . . . . .

One that has worked so well in the past . . . . .

The Furness Enterprise is to . . . .

Be helped to work even harder?

No it is to . . . . . close.

No wonder Barrow and Furness MP John Woodcock said: “This is bad news for the many local businesses Furness Enterprise supports, and is a terrible sign of the way the out-of-touch Conservative-led government is turning its back on areas like this.”

There's an e-petition to sign if you wish

Dave Whitehead, in the comments below, points us to an alternative view on the action being taken above.

It would be good to get people's views on the performance of Furness Enterprise. This is where a good councillor who is familiar with this organisation and we could trust could advise us. Alternatively some good investigative journalism by a local reporter. - I'm all for emplying one.

What do you think?

What a fantastic story

2012-01-19T21:18:00.000Z

in the Westmorland Gazette today

This is the story of someone who lived life to the full and one to emulate.

The way his parents and colleagues have handled their grief shows us how wonderful people can be when faced with calamity.

For me the story of this young man makes me feel very positive.

Thank you to all concerned

Something positive

2012-01-19T10:54:00.000Z

Another two London pictures from Allan Wilson

The Wobbly Bridge and St Pauls

Inside The Monument

"Save the Internet"

2012-01-19T10:41:00.000Z

This, for me, is well worth supporting:

What I like is that it enables you, as well as sending a concocted message, to leave a (polite and reasoned) message with a leading senator on his facebook page - something I have done.

* * * * * * *

Today could be the day we save the free Internet.

The US Congress was poised to pass a law allowing officials to censor access to any website around the world. But after we delivered our 1.25 million strong petition to the White House, it came out against the bill and with public pressure at a boiling point even some bill backers are switching sides. Now, the Wikipedia - led blackout protest has rocketed the public campaign to the top of the news.

We are turning the tide. But the dark forces of censorship are trying to revive the bill right now. Let’s bury it for good today. Click to sign this emergency petition to save the Internet now and if you've signed already, to email, call, Facebook, and tweet Congressional and corporate targets. Then send this to everyone:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/save_the_internet_action_center_b/?vl

The bill would make the US one of the worst Internet censors in the world -- joining the ranks of countries like China and Iran. The Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and PROTECT IP Act (PIPA) would allow the US government to block any of us from accessing sites like YouTube, Google, or Facebook.

We got the White House to switch sides and now our global campaign and the growing public pressure is forcing Congress to abandon the bill. Last weekend, Senator Cardin, who cosponsored the legislation, announced he will vote against it! Then six prominent Republicans penned a letter requesting that the bill be shelved. Now the lower house vote is reportedly on ice.

Just days ago we were told it was impossible to stop the corporate censorship cabal, but now this is at a tipping point and amazingly we could win! Let’s stop US censorship today. Sign this emergency petition to save the internet now and forward it to everyone:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/save_the_internet_action_center_b/?vl

This US legislation could infringe on all of our freedoms. But if we win, we will show that when people unite with one voice from all over the world we can stop the abuse of power anywhere. We have brought this bill back from the brink. Now, if we amplify our voices today, we can put an end to the most powerful Internet censorship threat that the world has ever seen.

With hope,

Dalia, Ian, Alice, Ricken, Diego, David, and the Avaaz Team

Sources:

White House statement:
https://secure.avaaz.org/whitehouse_internet_statement

Wikipedia joins web blackout in SOPA protest (BBC):
http://www.avaaz.org/bbc_sopa_wikipedia

American Censorship's fact sheet on SOPA:
http://americancensorship.org/infographic.html

Everything you need to know about Congress's online piracy bills in one post (Washington Post):
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/post/everything-you-need-to-know-about-congresss-online-piracy-bills-in-one-post/2011/12/16/gIQAz4ggyO_blog.html

SOPA and PIPA sponsors caving in to opposition (Talking Points Memo):
http://idealab.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/01/sopa-and-pipa-sponsors-caving-into-opposition.php

White House will not support SOPA, PIPA (Huffington Post):
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/14/white-house-sopa-pipa_n_1206347.html

Controversial online piracy bill ‘shelved’ until consensus is found (The Hill):
http://thehill.com/blogs/hillicon-valley/technology/204167-sopa-shelved-until-consensus-is-found

How can you support the Tories?

2012-01-19T09:30:00.003Z

Who does he really care about?

When Cameron behaves so inconsistantly.

One rule for the rioters and another for the bankers.

Don't they both exhibit the same morality?

If we followed the same rules we would have the legal system being asked to line up the bankers receiving massive pay bonuses - which it could be argued, they steal- and sending them off to prison where they could learn a thing or two about the lives of the rioters.

It seems that capitalism as we know it has had it's day.

Expect trouble from thinking sane people; they have a bit of morality left, or are they just as selfish as the Tories in this case.

Is the problem that our commercial world is driven by pychopaths who have no empathy for the plight of others. A recent radio interview on Saturday live would suggest this - the item under "Also available" with Jon Ronson - listen from the third minute in.

Visits to London

2012-01-16T13:02:00.001Z

How many people visit London on a regular basis?

We enjoy a visit to keep in touch with 'the outside world' - it gives us a perspective on life in general.

We go for the day and always stay above ground, walking most of the time but also the upstairs of the bus.

We've just booked for the new Hockney exhibition and are going to meet Leonardo da Vinci (!).

View from The Monument

Here's a photo from Allan Wilson - Thanks - his photos are to be found in many places in town.

Allotments - David Parratt of the Town Council

2012-01-15T16:43:00.000Z

True to form, I received a prompt and detail reply to the email I sent last weekend; it arrived last Tuesday.

Here it is:

You need to be aware of the facts and I have spoken to Les Ord about this.

The situation has improved considerably over the past few years. Last year
the waiting list was 60+. It is now down to 10 at present out of all the
allotments in Ulverston and there is no waiting list at Sandside. There is
one vacant plot here at present which is in the process of being let.

The marked reduction is partly due to a number of allotment holders
receiving a 'Notice to Quit', a number simply giving up for various reasons
and an increase in the availability of half plots. Where plots have been
taken over fairly recently, some in poor condition, little work if any will
have been carried out in the atrocious weather conditions experienced of
late. Therefore, the true picture may not necessarily be apparent without
the facts. The situation will continue to be monitored over the coming
months using regular and excellent feedback that we receive from the
allotment representatives both at meetings and outside them.

The method of administration does not need to change - it already has!

David Parratt
Town Clerk
Ulverston Town Council

A reply, I thanked him for, on Tuesday.

Broadband speeds in Ulverston

2012-01-15T16:34:00.001Z

I use Google alerts which flags up every reference to the word "Ulverton" on the internet most of waht I get is on the Evening Mail site but occasionally something a bit quirky pops up.

Here we have a discussion of Broadband speeds on the TalkTalk discussion forum.

http://talktalkmembers.org/forums/showthread.php?t=74432

The chat is highly technical and beyond me but it implies that these guys have experienced a dramatic drop in broadband speed in connection with the Ulverston exchange.

Over to you if interested.

The bumpy road ahead

2012-01-14T11:57:00.000Z

The loss of many of the Euro countries' high credit rating yesterday signals tough times ahead for all of us.

I cannot believe that this will not also effect the UK with its high budget deficit before long. We too will lose our triple star rating and why not?

We will then learn to be self supporting which will be a good thing. The myth that "growth" is the answer to our problems will soon be exposed - the world's resources are finite and will not support unending growth.

Now is the time to face up to reality and be prepared for really hard times ahead.

We have been lulled into a lethargy in this country by relatively smooth running of our way of life since the last (UK involved) war (which I experienced).

True things are getting harder and we will have tougher times ahead.

John Gray provides us with great objective thinking.

Here is the link to the article that discusses his thinking on

The endless obsession with what might be

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-16245250

"The noise of bibbling"

"Their work is done under the cover of silence and only an alert ear is able to recognise the noise of the nibbling of millions of jaws of termites in the night, which devour the building and prepare for its collapse."

Is this not what is happening in our society at the moment?

We will all help ourselves by toughening up in preparation for dramatic change in the future by developing a strong emotionally secure base - within ourselves, our families, our friends and the communities around us.

Judging from my short time here during the last war it can in fact be a very enjoyable experience.

Despair of British Politics

2012-01-13T10:16:00.001Z

Having watched Questiontime last night when they discussed the proposal to spend billions of pounds of our money on high speed rail development, I begin to despair of British politics as it exists at the moment.

ALL the political parties came out in favour, even Labour - it shows just how out of touch politicians are with the views of everyday people.

We're heading for a show down.
...
For the first time in my life I am thinking that I would be wise to avoid paying taxes to the government in any way possible. I can see far better ways to spend my money that actually benefit the community immediately around me.

Thank goodness we have young people with intelligence and energy who can lead our country in a sane direction: one that takes account of the realities of life of everyday people here.

Sadly the future is not ever going to be easy from now on but only ostriches think otherwise ( and that's a myth but creates a punchy image).

My regular chat with the Ulverston Police

2012-01-10T06:51:00.000Z

This occurred again this morning. Here I attempt to recount what I found out.

It's great to be given the time by officers that have their work cut out to provide a good service here in Ulverston.

I voiced the following concerns:

1. The future of the Lantern Procession.

I had got the impression that several of our festivals are in danger of closing because of the cost of policing and therefore asked just how little police involvement could be acceptable in this case.

As I understand the situation - there need be no problem.

Unlike events like the Candlelit Walk that occur off the public highway and therefore don't require any police involvement or cost, the above event does require policing: particularly where road closures are involved and where crossing the major thoroughfares like the A590 is required.

The solution to a low cost event is having well trained volunteer marshalls and a public that respects their directions, with an absolute minimum of the costly police involvement.

To achieve this we need good leadership from the top and in my opinion if this event is to be well run we need both good organisation and good people relations at all levels. These are indeed rare qualities but given the co-operation and the enthusiasm to be found across the community then this can be achieved here in Ulverston.

One of the main problem may be its success. John Fox, the originator of the concept of the Lantern Procession expressed concerns that the event had become too big and well known. Too much publicity could in fact lead to it becoming unmanagable unless wholehearted community support is given.

The other problem is that there is a frustration amongst many of the energetic twenty to forty year olds that would like to help. Many find the present main organiser, Peter Winston, a difficult person to work with.

I seems that the minute a successful idea takes hold then certain people take hold of the reins and the rest of us put up with it because they work so hard. Ulverston is littered with personalities that want to take over little empires and with people who are only too happy to sit back and let them.

Watch out but I suspect we won't have a full blooded Flag Festival this year and the public would be right to ask "Where did all the thousands of pounds of money go?" - I'm told that the organisation behind this particular festival - The Better Town's Team - are now defunct with only a secretary - Peter Winston. Is this correct?

It is very tempting :

2012-01-09T12:20:00.000Z

To think that we, humans are special.

But if you're an unbiased scientist who understands the universe a little, you will agree that we are just a small part of a massive amazing collection of other solar systems, galaxies and collections of matter.

The size is so great that it takes millions, no billions of years for light to travel across it.

It will therefore be a certainty in lay terms that there are other forms of life 'out there' . These 'beings' will also be equally certainly be more inteligent and more developed than us.

Not that I can see any practical value to this information.

This for me is a helpful thought and gives me some perspective on my life and its relative unimportance - except to me.

Great idea

2012-01-08T05:32:00.000Z

It's great to see the flexible thinking from some business people here in Ulverston.

A cafe for travellers at Ulverston Station

I'm full of admiration for the people at The Zone : I've been a regular user with young children and now it will be a great place to have a coffee when travelling.

Any chance of a dance to the music of a good jazz band (from the Adelphi at Liverpool) as we had in the same premises, was it thirty years ago? One of my memorable occasions.

Support Avaaz

2012-01-07T17:35:00.002Z

At a time when democracy in this country is grinding along at a frustrating pace with no political party apparently in touch with the view of the people, I am gradually being won over to the ideas of Avaaz.

Though a little sceptical, I do think they are a movement for present times.

Please give serious consideration to this worldwide organisation.

They are currently conducting a poll about where to go in the future.

You may wish to participate.

One warning however.

Do not get sucked in to contributing their minimum stated contribution of £3 per week (which is far too much). This is outgageous and their information shows that this produces support from only about 10,000 people. What about the other ten million they say support them?

Better to contribute a fraction of a pound say £ 0.5 per week - they only collect the money monthly anyway.

* * * * * * *

Democracy is on the march across the world, and our community is at the heart of the struggle, but to win we're going to need to choose our course wisely. Click below to take the annual Avaaz all-member poll, and let's decide together where to focus our energies in 2012.

The poll takes a few minutes to complete, but the more of us take it, the wiser our course will be:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/january_poll_2012/?vl

And if you don't have time to take the poll right now, we can all see the results as they come in here:

https://secure.avaaz.org/en/january_poll_2012_people_power/?bv11891

Last year we ran hundreds of campaigns and played a key role in dozens of victories, including:

• Putting a wrench in Media-Mogul Rupert Murdoch's march to world domination
• Breaking the Syria media blackout and supporting courageous democracy movements across the Middle East
• Taking on Italy's Silvio Berlusconi at every turn until his corrupt regime fell
• Blocking the Gay Death Penalty Bill in Uganda
• Stopping a mega highway that sliced right through indigenous protected lands in Bolivia
• Building a massive anti corruption movement in India that has repeatedly forced the government to back down
• Building a global movement for Palestinian independence
• Saving the Kyoto Protocol and UN climate process from polluting powers determined to wreck it
..and much, much more.

With the world undergoing profound change, and our community twice the size it was last January, imagine what this year's list could look like. The challenges may be coming thick and fast, but when we stick together, we can transform them into opportunities to build the world we all dream of. Here's to building dreams in 2012.

With hope,

Ricken, Alice, Benjamin, Diego, Emma, and the whole Avaaz team

Avaaz.org is a 10-million-person global campaign network that works to ensure that the views and values of the world's people shape global decision-making. ("Avaaz" means "voice" or "song" in many languages.) Avaaz members live in every nation of the world; our team is spread across 13 countries on 4 continents and operates in 14 languages. Learn about some of Avaaz's biggest campaigns here, or follow us on Facebook or Twitter.

To contact Avaaz, write to us at www.avaaz.org/en/contact

Allotments

2012-01-06T18:26:00.000Z

Having seen what is (not) happening at the allotments that I use I have been raising the issue with David Parratt who administers the allotments on behalf of the Ulverston Town Council - in particular the Councillors who have choosen to oversee them.

They are (taken from the Town Council web site):

Our Mayor: Cllr. Mrs. Pat Jones
Cllr. Mrs. Helen Irving
Cllr. Roy Gill
Cllr. Norman Bishop-Rowe
Cllr. Mrs. Brenda Marr
Cllrs. Jim Prosser
Cllr. Brian Wilkinson

This morning I sent the following email to David Parratt (who I approached several months ago about the same matter and received what I considered to be an evasive reply) with a copy to Cllr. Norman Bishop-Rowe:

David,

I have waited until now so that you can enjoy an untroubled Christmas but now is the time to look for change.

I believe that it is helpful that you hear what others think.

Please note that I and my representative are thoroughly dissatisfied with the administration of our allotments.

In his words, you personally just pay lip service to your role of administrating them.

This is not necessarily your fault but the lack of time that you are given to do your job by the Town Council.

As there has been no action to let disused plots effectively in the last few months, my next course of action will be to prepare a video that I shall put on Youtube to illustrate the problem to a wider public.

When there are so many people seeking allotments these days, I'm sure you will sympathise in the view that the method of administration needs to change or at least be reviewed.

I would take account of your reply in presenting my information - I am all for giving credit where it is due wherever possible.

Geoff Dellow

I shall wait until later next week before taking further action.

If you feel strongly, as I do, and would like your views expressed on the proposed video, please contact me by email - gd at tygh.co.uk

Diane Abbott

2012-01-06T11:22:00.000Z

Don't you think that the reaction to her recent twitter comments about divide and rule are totally over the top?

Don't we need our politicians to be relaxed and free with their comments?

This is not about racism but about people jumping up and down about nothing and distracting us from far more important issues.

Personally I want our politicians to be relaxed as act as falible humans.

I find something like this from a politician refreshing; most of the time they make nonesense statements with their typical politician- speak that when analysed means nothing and only tries to promote . . . the politician.

The people that should be in the dock are the jounalists and media that pump up this supercritical atmosphere followed by the thousands that get swept along with it. Aggravated by leaders like Milliband who over-respond.

Cameron sets a good example by playing down such frivolity.

Alexander Chancellor has it right

"My hope for the new year is that everyone will become a little thicker-skinned. When so many casual remarks nowadays provoke public fury, relaxed discourse becomes all but impossible."

"Could we stop being so outraged when somebody says something stupid?

From Diane Abbott to Jeremy Clarkson, we need to calm down when stupid or offensive pronouncements become public"

What Cameron is not revealing

2012-01-06T03:39:00.001Z

This is the latest from Avaaz, an organisation that in my view is well worth supporting.

Here it reveals the concerns of eminent MPs from both sides of The House.

Margaret Hodge is very critical.

It seems that the Tax office doesn't have the resources to deal with big businesses who employ top lawyers to extract every concession possible.

What appears to be happening is that the tax office do a deal in order to get some money immediately rather than fight lengthy court battles.

Let's hope this action puts pressure on Cameron to do something.

* * * * * *

Our tax chief had secret lunches with Vodafone and Goldman Sachs and then handed them billions in tax breaks – while keeping Parliament in the dark!

MPs are outraged, claiming we are owed over 25 billion pounds in back taxes from these and similar dodgy deals. But the tax agency has blocked an inquiry into the scandal and refuses to release any documents to shed light on why these tax breaks were ordered in the first place.

By acting together now we can ensure full transparency on the Goldman Sachs and Vodafone deals, and get them to pay the tax they owe. Let’s turn up the heat -- sign the tax justice petition to David Cameron -- we’ll deliver it with a splash next week:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/goldman_sachs_pay_your_tax/?vl

The cosy relationship between the public tax authority and major private companies is shocking: the tax agency boss had more than a hundred lunches with big business tax lawyers and advisers, leading to the companies being let off millions in taxes. The agency tried to obstruct a recent Parliamentary inquiry using flimsy confidentiality arguments, and threatened the whistleblower who helped expose the scandal.

The coalition is weak and on the defensive over the economy and several Conservative and Lib Dem MPs are fuming over these tax revelations. But the government has yet to demand full payment. Only public pressure can change Cameron's position and ensure that big businesses pay what they owe rather than manoeuvre and lobby to minimise their tax bills.

We should be able to trust our public tax body to be free of corporate capture and able to recover taxes owed without fear or favour. Join the call for tax justice -- click below to sign the petition:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/goldman_sachs_pay_your_tax/?vl

From Occupy to the G20, citizens across the world are coming together to push back corporate interests, fight against dodgy deals corrupting our governments and bring back transparency -- and the pressure is working. Let's come together now and win tax justice for us all.

With hope,

Alex, Antonia, Emma, RIcken, Mary, Rewan, Diego and the entire Avaaz team

More information:

MPs attack HMRC’s ‘cosy’ deals with big business (BBC)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-16253205

MPs say taxman "too cosy" with companies (Reuters)
http://uk.reuters.com/article/2011/12/20/uk-britain-taxes-idUKTRE7BJ03S20111220

The end of all take and no give (New Statesman)
http://www.newstatesman.com/blogs/the-staggers/2011/12/tax-returns-public-firms

HMRC hid 'sweetheart' tax deals for big business, MPs say (The Guardian)
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2011/dec/20/inland-revenue-sweetheart-tax-deals

Taxman targets small firms after sweetheart deals with big business (Daily Mail)
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2081461/HMRC-plans-checks-3-000-fines-missing-paperwork.html?ito=feeds-newsxml

Goldman Sachs’s Tax Rate Drops to 1% (Bloomberg)
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=a6bQVsZS2_18

Challenging the System

2012-01-04T21:01:00.000Z

Young people are successfully breaking the law ( and not being challenged) because it is clearly unjust.

To those of us with an objective view of what is happening in the western world, this seems to be the just thing to do. It will happen more and more as intelligent young people with time on their hands and nothing to loose take action against the moneyed classes.

"The squatters, linked to the Occupy movement, say they plan a mass occupation of houses."

Talking about a house that was on the market at half a million pounds, young people " occupied it in the autumn to highlight homelessness, as well as the way builders and banks were bailed out by the taxpayer.

There are up to 400,000 properties lying empty. . . "

I believe we will in the future be grateful to this kind of movement by young people as they attempt to restore sanity to our upside down society.

We should support the Occupy movement all we can - and I read of many from Ulverston who are doing just this in very practical ways.

Activities over Christmas

2012-01-03T15:33:00.000Z

Tories favour the rich over the poor

2012-01-02T08:24:00.000Z

One catastrophic example is how the present government allows foreigners with lots of cash to invest to come to this country and buy expensive property.

This is particularly acute with rich Greeks seeking a place to invest their millions like rats deserting a sinking ship as has been reported in the national press.

The government with their lax tax laws allow them to buy up property in central London.

At first thought this sounds good because money is coming to Britain but this means that property prices are ramped up with a knock on effect. First, those trying to buy homes in London then to those trying to rent leading step by step to increased prices down the road here in Ulverston making it impossible for people to buy or even afford to rent.

The other effect of course is to exacerbate the problem for Greece to balance its economy.

Cameron adopts a hypocritical position that the economic crisis is all the fault of the Eurozone countries whereas in fact the above policy increases the problem by syphoning off money from Greece which is desperate for investment.

The Conservatives will soon be weeping crocodile tears at the plight of the Greek people while at the same time aggravating the problem by encouraging money to come to this country to benefit our rich and in effect take it away from our poor.

We move step by step towards a society of haves and havenots. We too are moving towards a financial crisis as the poor rebel at their suffering with the prospects of riots again on our streets with our angry young people having little hope for their future.

Reflections . . .

2012-01-02T00:42:00.002Z

Your Childs Brain - and yours too !

2011-12-30T07:21:00.000Z

If you have a child, I'd suggest that you will have been particularly interested in the three part series that concluded last night on BBC4

We learn that about the brains development from the time it starts to grow inside the mother's womb to the time we die.

This is particularly relevant to childhood but I found it fascinating even for me at the age of 76 as I embark on learning to play the piano better.

These programs are still viewable on i-Player until 5th January and are very well presented and easy to understand because they are designed for children.

The first episode is available here:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b018l6vy/Royal_Institution_Christmas_Lectures_2011_Whats_in_Your_Head/

The second: http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b018l6wx/Royal_Institution_Christmas_Lectures_2011_Whos_in_Charge_Here/

The third: http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b018l71s/Royal_Institution_Christmas_Lectures_2011_Are_You_Thinking_What_Im_Thinking/

If you'd like a review of these programs, there's one here:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2011/dec/25/royal-institution-christmas-lectures-brain

Thinking out of the box (continued, continued)

2011-12-27T18:50:00.001Z

Assuming that someone is reading these 'pearls of wisdom' - from an old man who no longer needs to work but earned a good living throughout his life with his ideas (some of them patented by Glaxo when working in Ulverston and by Shell when working in San Francisco ) - I shall continue:

I believe there are plenty of smart people who may read this. People who could not only find work for themselves but setup small companies employing others particularly young people to the benefit of the larger community of the surrounding area. It could be that people like myself could get together and give younger people the benefit of their life experience.

The local media could even help such a scheme get going should they wish to do something positive by attracting the expertise that must be dormant in this area. Expertise not being used because of the lack of incentive to do so.

Back to the topic at the top:

We're thinking about ways of earning a living by doing business with countries whose economies are thriving.

The last posting was in effect focussing on exporting information - in particular Tourism.

Today I'm thinking about exporting physical objects.

Here are some examples:

We have a plentiful supply of seeds here in Ulverston provided by Chiltern Seeds. I'm sure they already do a lot of business abroad.

Another local enterprise does most of its business online - Rhubarb and Custard - you can listen to a series of interviews on Youtube http://youtu.be/6X-IOJbPFF0.

We have a camera shop that sells camera accessories abroad for £1,500 over the Internet - I know because I've been consulted as to whether they were a reliable firm.

Surely other products ready for export are local art (Blue Tarn collective), antiques, quality jewellery. Rich people in the developing countries will want to have many things in their possession just to be one up on their rich friends. - I have a friend in London - toymaker of the year - who has no trouble selling to the rich - Conversation pieces they are called. Pottery at Printfest was flying off the shelves to people who didn't stop to ask the price.

What sells is top quality stuff.

Many forward looking companies are already set up to do business over the Internet. Couldn't they or something similar focus on sales to these countries with thriving markets? Think of the massive market of China surely there will be opportunities.

Yes language would be need but there are experts in this area who could help develop potential markets in brackets : Japanese, Chinese, Spanish (South America), Portuguese ( South America), Dutch (South Africa) Hindi (India) as well as the obvious Australia.

I'll stop here - over to you.

Comments

2011-12-27T09:43:00.000Z

Sadly, because of my confused old age thinking, I deleted the last 50 comments here on this blog thinking I was deleting the spam I get!

I shall deal with this as best I can!

Thinking out of the box (continued).

2011-12-26T15:04:00.000Z

So what kind of skills are needed for working at home, for people in countries that have work to offer?

First sell something that will be in demand and you have the skill to offer:
...
You know English and our culture - and have a detailed knowledge of what happens locally and nationally.

Tourism immediately springs to mind - when I was at The Falls, here in Ulverston I was able to get articles written (by writing them myself) about my business in the prestigeous papers in other parts of the world. Something even the Tourist Board was not doing at the time. Thus you could represent the interests of a lot of small holiday businesses ( the chain establishments will already be doing some sort of job - but not very well). They will be very appreciative of foreign tourists and there will be many foreigners who want quality accommodation in for instance the Lake District and be ready to pay for it.

What skills do you need ? - the ability to research thoroughly both here and your potential market abroad. You have the Internet at you disposal. Why not pick prestigeous papers in one of your chosen countries and explore the possibility of a regular column in their paper. It could be English speaking but you are most likely to succeed in the future using a foreign language such as Portuguese, Spanish, Dutch, Chinese, Japanese . . . spoken in countries with an expanding and thriving economy. You can learn these languages and the culture of your target country all on the Internet. You will no doubt be a person that is used to writing well in an interesting way about your environment, maybe a bit of a story teller. Read the work of travel writers in the National Papers in this country and see how they do it. Now develop your own style with your target country very much in the forefront.

Make sense?

A brilliant but simple invention

2011-12-26T06:48:00.000Z

The "Easy Open" jam jar lid on products made by Duerr.

Absolutely brilliant - check them out.

"Duerrs began work on its ‘Orbit Easy Open’ lids after researchers at Sheffield Hallam University found that 22 per cent of adults could not open a traditional jar.

For women over 50, the figure was 40 per cent.

However, 86 per cent of Morrisons customers who tried the lid between December and last month said it was much easier to open.

One said it was a ‘fantastic piece of engineering’, while another said the maker should get a medal.

Richard Duerr, of Duerrs, said: 'The simplest innovations are the ones that truly have the biggest impact on our everyday lives.
‘This isn’t just a product for those with arthritis or weak wrists; it’s a product that everyone can use.

‘The trouble is, I’m not sure my wife needs me around any more.’ "

The outer ring creates a vertical lift to the lid without trying to turn the lid itself :

Thus the lid itself can be 'jammed on' so that it resists the turning motion one applies and can make it extremely difficult to open.

This new outer ring creates a lift without trying to turn the jammed on lid.

Brilliant. I agree - the inventor deserves a medal.

We need to campaign to get all lids using the same principle. There will be many people with weak wrists who find it a nightmare to open jars - this design provides an amazingly easy solution.

Try one if you can.

The Mill at Ulverston

2011-12-25T21:25:00.003Z

Why make a fuss?

Above next day - even more rubbish is added

Because if we accept this, our streets will become littered with throw-out rubbish.

Surely if some people see this kind of thing happening and nobody objects then this behaviour becomes part of Ulverston's accepted standards. More and more people will just park their rubbish on the streets.

If we care then we have to kick up a fuss. Zero tolerance really works.

Leave this kind to grow and it speads the message that nobody cares and crime of all sorts will slowly grow and it will be difficult to reverse the tide.

Over to you.

Thinking out of the box.

2011-12-25T19:35:00.000Z

I read that many people with energy and drive are leaving this country and emegrating to parts of the world where their economy is growing and work is available. This is a sad drain of talent from this country.

However, it seems to me, that there is an alternative, though one that will take some flair to achieve :

Staying put and working from home for businesses that are based in these countries.

For instance I know someone here in Ulverston who works from home on his computer for a Greek company.

With the Internet, it will be possible to find work in any part of the world - places with an expanding economy - Australia, South America - work that can be done here. The most obvious will be work on a computer.

It's a matter of thinking very creatively and making strong links with another country - it could well involve learning another language.

What is even more encouraging is that it is, I understand, becoming possible to study subjects through online causes at top rate universities and institutions in other parts of the world .

In a small way I contribute to this as I teach Flash with online materials and work with teachers in various parts of the world - Australia, Thailand, the States. I then supplement this online teaching with verbal tutorials where they phone me to receive supporting tuition - makes for some phone calls at strange times of the day - as you can imagine.

So those of you looking for work : I suspect you can find it in other countries by thinking creatively - work that can be done in your own home - how about learning chinese . . . . . .

Browsing the internet?

2011-12-24T12:22:00.001Z

Then why not watch some of the interviews that are here on this blog - obtained by clicking on the word cloud below right.

Word cloud "interview" and you get this!

"art" is quite fun too

"photos" have a lot of Allan Wilson's pictures which are rather special

Get the idea - now you can try some yourself!

Makes for a good start to a boring day at the office (I suspect there are quite a few people who do this whilst sipping their 'wake up ' coffee - how else does David Parratt, our Town Clerk, find out what I'm talking about on this blog so quickly? - Not that he can get bored very easily. )

This is what you're looking for: -

Looking back

2011-12-24T10:02:00.001Z

Looking forward to more of the same!

Long live the "Occupy" movement

2011-12-19T23:33:00.001Z

Some brave and determined people are beginning to get people to rethink the values of our society.

The Haves are beginning to discover what they have is valueless and the Havenots that they have what really matters.

We need to re-evaluate our basic premises so that quality of life becomes our most important asset.

At Christmas both quality and rubbish rub shoulders so that we can reflect on which is important to us.

For the Haves, we/they had better be prepared for a rough ride as there are many issues coming to the boil.

Will we be able as a society to cope?

Cameron tries to make us think that our boat is steady and we've set a course for stability.

I don't believe a word of it.

Our basic needs will be challenged in the next few years, each subsequent year being more challenging than the previous one.

Time for a deep rethink.

New values and thoughts need to occupy our minds this Christmas.

At bit of escapism is a good thing but only if it helps us achieve the making of difficult decisions in the long term.

I suspect that there is a lot of wisdom to be found in John Gray's book , "Straw Dogs" which I've bought and is sitting by my side. Time to stop walking round the dog basket and face up to reading it.

So much from so little

2011-12-18T20:27:00.001Z

High feel good factor from Alaska:

Via Anastasia Micklethwaite formerely of Dowdales, Dalton

This video from the small Yupiq Eskimo Village of Quinhagak in Alaska, was apparently a school computer project done by one teacher, intended for the other Yupiq villages in the area. Much to the villagers' shock, over a half million people have viewed it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=LyviyF-N23A

The Memorable Evening in The Gill

2011-12-16T18:48:00.000Z

This is what Neil Wade captured and put on Youtube.

Unlike my previous efforts it has several snatches of Rita Baugh singing, accompanied by Hilary Grieve(?).

A None Christmas

2011-12-16T10:38:00.002Z

Oh what a lovely feeling.

To be absolutely free of the Christmas mad rush!

I plan to give only two presents ( one of them will cost me nothing other than some fun 'work') and possibly hand deliver a few of my own Christmas cards.

No feeling of pressure.

No decorations.

No TV programs but a good book instead.

No Christmas dinner.

A chance to enjoy empty roads and a trip to the quiet countryside.

Maybe meet up with dog owners at Ford Park as has become a tradition.

Lots of time to practice the piano and if the weather lets up, to do some work on the allotment; otherwise a very satisfying indoor DIY project.

What is great about Ulverston, particularly at this time, is that everyone is so friendly and smiling through the rain. It's great to go out for a walk round town and the many of the shop windows are stunning.

Bliss.

A memorable evening

2011-12-12T05:03:00.000Z

Rita and Hilary started us off

Followed by Naomi's choir

Then followed by Mark and partner with fiddle and recorder

And finishing up with a song and dance

Mulled Music in The Gill last night

2011-12-10T10:22:00.000Z

A truly memorable occasion.

The singing started spot on 6:30 thanks to Rita's professionalism and continued to 8 ish

We all thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.

There's nothing like having cold water running down your neck while listening to good enthusiastic music!

More videos to follow.

Another great event tonight!

2011-12-09T13:40:00.000Z

Everything ready and the weather seems to be with us.

We'll be lighting up this monument with over a hundred candles.

Should look good - and the mulled wine tastes delicious.

This is the most important thing that humans can do

2011-12-07T14:37:00.000Z

It would be good to think that we, the everyday person can make a difference.

Certainly it's worth a try.

We talk about security against terrorism but this is exactly what we are encouraging with our greed. We seem preoccupied with our own needs for oil resources and ignore the plight of others.

Britain along with the USA and other countries that can cope for the time being with global warming are ignoring the urgency for immediate action. Meanwhile smaller more vulnerable countries that are suffering deeply from the effects of global warming are becoming increasingly frustrated because our inaction.

Will it be surprising if they too turn to the only way to vent their anger - terrorism?

The money we save by inaction will quickly be spent on protecting ourselves.

I've just received this - it's worth signing.

Geoff

* * * * * * *

Our oceans are dying, our air changing, and our forests and grasslands turning to deserts. From fish and plants to wildlife to human beings, we are killing the planet that sustains us, and fast. There is one single greatest cause of this destruction of the natural world -- climate change, and in the next 3 days, we have a chance to stop it.

The UN treaty on climate change -- our best hope for action -- expires next year. But a greedy US-led coalition of oil-captured countries is trying to kill it forever. It's staggeringly difficult to believe: they are trading short term profits for the survival of our natural world.

The EU, Brazil and China are all on the fence -- they are not slaves to oil companies the way the US is, but they need to hear a massive call to action from people before they really lead financially and politically to save the UN treaty. The world is gathered at the climate summit for the next 3 days to make the big decision. Let's send our leaders a massive call to stand up to big oil and save the planet -- an Avaaz team at the summit will deliver our call directly:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/the_planet_is_dying/?vl

Things are becoming desperate. All over our planet extreme weather continues to smash records, leaving millions homeless and without food or shelter. We’re rapidly reaching our point of no return to stop runaway climate change -- we only have until 2015 to start making drastic reductions to our carbon pollution.

Yet despite this very real urgency, the world has failed to mobilise against the fossil fuel-captured democracy of the US. Not only content with wrecking the Copenhagen talks and the Kyoto protocol, they are now building a coalition of climate treaty killers to put the final nail in the coffin of international negotiations in Africa.

Our only hope to turn things around lies with Europe, Brazil and China -- they can make a deal happen, but they need to do it together, and that’s where we come in. Europe is tired, it’s fought long and hard on climate and needs a public boost. China has already agreed to binding commitments, is sensitive to its international reputation, and could lead further if we give it an encouraging push. And Brazil is hosting next year's earth summit -- making it eager to set the world up for climate success. Let’s build a giant global call to bring our champions together and build a green dream team. Sign the petition now and forward this email:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/the_planet_is_dying/?vl

The crazy focus on short term profits that motivates countries to stall and scuttle action on a climate crisis that literally threatens the survival of all of us cannot be tolerated. Fortunately, our movement has the power to intervene in this process and demand change. Let’s stand together and inspire others to stand with us for a safer, more humane world.

With hope and determination,

Luis, Emma, Ricken, Iain, Antonia, Morgan, Dalia, Pascal and the rest of the Avaaz team

More information:
AFP: "Durban climate talks deadlocked as ministers haggle"
http://www.canada.com/news/Durban+climate+talks+deadlocked+ministers+haggle/5817633/story.html

Bloomberg "Global Warming Fight Threatened by Debt Crisis as Kyoto Fades":
http://www.businessweek.com/news/2011-12-05/global-warming-fight-threatened-by-debt-crisis-as-kyoto-fades.html

BBC "Durban: the early skirmishes":
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-15944559

AFP "Climate talks bust-up feared despite dire warnings"
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5ilQ2AAkCv-s-T9ADnXqjblPluR9A?docId=CNG.451abb628334395938a1d87bf5b33d68.1e1

CTV "Canada to pull out of Kyoto Protocol next month":
http://calgary.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20111127/durban-south-africa-slimate-conference-setup-111127/20111127/?hub=CalgaryHome

---------------------------------------

Piano

2011-12-01T06:29:00.001Z

Slow progress after a lot of hard practice.

(Damn me if I didn't paste in the wrong video - the one I did six months ago! So here now is the latest.)

Slowly getting there. Making those fingers work a lot harder.

The last six months has been used in developing a musical memory ie training my fingers to play without me thinking about it concentrating on getting my fingers to move up and down the keyboard. The idea is to build up a set of tools that can be used without thinking about it.

This way I can set one had off in action with one hand while I make up stuff with the other.

Takes some hard work to achieve the desired result!

The Choir - Episode 2

2011-11-27T22:47:00.000Z

Just watched this:

The second episode

They've certainly got guts - it's as though the harder the task the higher the feeling of achievement.

We can do the same here in Ulverston.

Ulverston is Special - SLDC Car Parking Charges

2011-11-27T19:19:00.001Z

I noticed this when in London on Thursday:

Greening's warning

Justine Greening, the new Transport Secretary, has been extraordinarily forthright in her views on Westminster council's plans for off-peak parking charges. Westminster is, she says, trying "to put some extra money in their coffers". Using parking charges to raise general revenue is against government guidelines and could be challenged in court. It would be astonishing for a Tory council to ignore the views of the Conservative cabinet member with major responsibilities in this area. The proposal is politically contentious as well as economically disastrous: the council should back down.

( See second item on the Evening Standard Editor's page )

We in Ulverston are fedup with the attitude of Kendal SLDC towards our use of our carparks.

Of particular interest is :

"Using parking charges to raise general revenue is against government guidelines and could be challenged in court"

On what grounds can this be challenged in Court?

Can't we do it here?

It is clear that other business leaders are also very unhappy with their council's kneejerk reaction to raising money:

Here in Wiltshire

Can we not pool information on how to fight for our car parks.

How can you watch and listen to this -

2011-11-26T21:19:00.004Z

. . . .

And not cry ?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b0175nh5/The_Choir_Military_Wives_Episode_1/

The power of singing together!

People who live lives under real pressure with loved ones in Afghanistan . . .

Sing .

I learnt a lot.

You've got until Monday to watch this episode and then a few more days to watch the rest.

Singing in the park

2011-11-24T04:44:00.002Z

It was great joining in with these people who really impressed me with the sense of enjoying life to the full. People came along with the book of words - if you hadn't got one they would share.

A real feel good factor.

It all started here!

Is it time to get blogging again ?

2011-11-19T10:33:00.003Z

What a great picture - who do I thank?

I must admit I'm enjoying a break!

Spending time with hands on activities like practicing the piano, relating to young children, house maintenance, digging the allotment (and cropping delicious vegetables) and talking to real people in the street - and even keeping up with friends on dare I say it the pervasive Facebook: all these are vastly superior to engaging with people on this blog.

The thing I enjoy about Facebook is that there you relate to real people who you know whereas here most people are so reluctant to share their real names so that relationships cannot grow; what a bore; what a load of cowards, I think to myself.

Are there any people out there that have something interest to say- my assumpition is that most readers work for the council and come here just to check what's being said about them. I'm amazed for instance how quickly David Parratt (our Town Clerk ) responds to something he doesn't like on this blog.

Do many of his ilk check this blog every morning as part of their dull and boring routine?

I wonder.

Protect the freedom of the Internet

2011-11-16T13:21:00.000Z

AVAAZ explains that action in the USA can have a real effect on our freedom of communication because so much hardware actually sited in the USA. I suggest that it is very important to support them.

Furthermore the use of AVAAZ to register our beliefs is proving to be a very real power that we as individuals can have on world policies - you can watch the supporters signing up by their thousands:

* * * * * * * *

Right now, the US Congress is debating a law that would give them the power to censor the world's Internet -- creating a blacklist that could target YouTube, WikiLeaks and even groups like Avaaz!

Under the new law, the US could force Internet providers to block any website on suspicion of violating copyright or trademark legislation, or even failing to sufficiently police their users' activities. And, because so much of the Internet's hosts and hardware are located in the US, their blacklist would clamp down on the free web for all of us.

The vote could happen any day now, but we can help stop this -- champions in Congress want to preserve free speech and tell us that an international outcry would strengthen their hand. Let’s urgently raise our voices from every corner of the world and build an unprecedented global petition calling on US decision makers to reject the bill and stop Internet censorship. Click below to sign and then forward as widely as possible -- our message will be delivered directly to key members of the US Congress ahead of the crucial vote:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/save_the_internet/
For years, the US government has condemned countries like China and Iran for their clampdown on Internet use. But now, the impact of America's new censorship laws could be far worse -- effectively blocking sites to every Internet user across the globe.

Last year, a similar Internet censorship bill was killed before reaching the US Senate floor, but it's now back in a different form. Copyright laws already exist and are enforced by courts. But this new law goes much further -- granting the government and big corporations enormous powers to force service providers and search engines to block websites based just on allegations of violations -- without a trial or being found guilty of any crime!

US free speech advocates have already raised the alarm, and some key Senators are trying to gather enough support to stop this dangerous bill. We have no time to lose. Let's stand with them to ensure American lawmakers preserve the right to a free and open Internet as an essential way for people around the world to exchange ideas, share communication and work collectively to build the world we want. Sign below to stop US censorship, and save the Internet as we know it:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/save_the_internet/

In the past months, from the Arab Spring to the global Occupy Movement, we've seen first hand how the Internet can galvanize, unify and change the world. Now, if we stand together, we can stop this new attack on Internet freedom. We've done it before -- in Brazil and Italy, Avaaz members have won major victories in the fight for a free Internet. Let's take the fight global, and mobilize to defeat the most powerful censorship threat that the Internet has ever seen.

With hope,

Luis, Dalia, Diego, Emma, Ricken, Aaron, Antonia, Benjamin and the rest of the Avaaz team

More information:

Op-Ed: Blacklist Bill allows Feds to remove websites from Internet (Digital Journal)
http://digitaljournal.com/article/313463

Disastrous IP Legislation Is Back – And It's Worse than Ever (EFF)
https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2011/10/disastrous-ip-legislation-back-%E2%80%93-and-it%E2%80%99s-worse-ever

Silicon Valley legislators oppose online piracy act (SFGate)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/11/15/BUO81LV0KI.DTL

House Hearing on Stop Online Piracy Act Scheduled (PC World)
http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/243659/house_hearing_on_stop_online_piracy_act_scheduled.html

Growing Chorus of Opposition to "Stop Online Piracy Act"
https://www.cdt.org/report/growing-chorus-opposition-stop-online-piracy-act

The stop online piracy act: summary, problems, and implications
https://www.cdt.org/files/pdfs/SOPA%202-pager%20final.pdf

Why Is Justin Bieber So Pissed Off?
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/timothy-karr/why-is-justin-bieber-so-p_b_1071055.html

A wonderful event

2011-11-01T13:40:00.001Z

We all enjoyed it immensely.

The sixteen keen workers, the three groups of musicians and most important the four hundred and fifty people who came.

The feedback has been tremendous.

To find out more visit the Ulverston Candlelit Walk Facebook page

I'm always amazed how you can revisit a place that had so much activity the night before and next morning there's not a trace of all that activity. All the candle jars and pottery lights have gone, The music and "grandstand" is as it was - a lot of choppy grass.

What happened the night before is totally in the memory of those that took part and even then every single person has a different memory of what happened. One of the things that impressed people is the kind of people who they came across. Everyone was so appreciative and enjoying the wonder of the event.

Sadly those that hear about it from others who were there will never have the chance of witnessing a similar event. Next year will be totally different even though someone may attempt to repeat the magic: it just can't be done. In fact next year may not happen unless new people get involved in the making and planning, prior to the event as I will only be present as a helper - if in fact help is needed.

If you want something to happen next year, now is the time to say so, so that those willing to get involved can make tentative plans.

What is tangible today is that Gill Banks upper and lower paths are totally dog shit free. Much of the paths have been swept and the stretch by the first picnic table where the two paths join, have had mud and weeds removed with spades by some very hard and dedicated workers. One discovers that actually the path is now quite wide!

Enjoy Gill Banks if you're out for a stroll.

Incredibly beautiful

2011-10-30T21:17:00.002Z

Hold me in your arms
Make my world round again.

When you hold me in your arms
You make the world round again

If I'm not by your side
Where else could I be?
If If I'm not in your eyes
Who else is there to see me?

Your senses make my world disappear
Your lips on my skin make time not begin
Your love around my heart means I will never die
And kissing you is like kissing the sky.

By Rita Baugh of Ulverston

Join us next Monday evening - even if you have no kids around

2011-10-24T13:45:00.002+01:00

The Candlelit Walk promises to be a magical experience again.

Quite different from last year.

This time more dramatic with the powerful flickering wax flames that rage and spit in wet windy weather, as they illuminate the beck and surrounding wood.

Trying to record the effect doesn't work on camera - you have to be there.

Shimmering lights in the high branches of the old trees, reflections off the babbling water and the eerie sound of a group of wailing singers and musicians who are making music specially for this event.

The combination of sight, sound and friendly people makes this early evening event very special.

Read what David and Janet Fellows had to say about their experience last year!

Here are the words of an enthusiast who has been to every event:

Along with the visual spectacle of all those flickering candles,
musicians will also be adding to the spooky atmosphere. Ulverston
singers Geertje Baugh and Naomi Edwards have been working on some
bewitching ballads with a folk flavour to fill the night with haunting
melodies.

“It gives me tingles seeing all those candles lighting up the woods,”
said Gill resident Jennie Dennett who's helping organise the walk.
“And the donated wax is also scented, so there's that brilliant smell
of burning wax, wet leaves and then the sweetness of cake shops all at
the same time. It's a real multi-sensory experience!”

It's an easy walk with lots of quiet very aware people. Parking in The Gill right at hand.

6:30 pm Gill Banks off The Gill, Ulverston this next Monday 31st October.

To keep in touch Go to our Facebook Page

For more information : Contact me by email - gd at tygh.co.uk (written this way to avoid spam) or by phone 01229 480347

The background to Ulverston's Candlelit Walk - Monday 31st October at 6:30

2011-10-24T09:58:00.000+01:00

It all started on 22nd March 2009 with an email from Sue Sellers suggesting that I might be interested in a community pottery project using what turned out to be one ton of Terra Cotta clay that Susan Thwaites of Dalton wished to find a home for.

All this clay has now been used (and fired!) and a second ton was started three months ago.

In subsequent months the project grew from pottery on the garden wall to pottery on the wall of Union Lane, to The Railings , Gill Banks and then Lightburn Park and Mill Dam - much of this is documented on this web site

Having found a way of attaching pottery to the railings, presence of spikes provoked the though that they needed covering. A few things were made but quickly got nicked because they were attractive including a hiker made by Jennie Dennett.

The though occurred that the railings could be used along their full length - lower path and upper path. The idea of the candlelit walk was born.

By September 2009 we had set ourselves the target of making 100 pots to hold Candles in Jars - one every ten metres so as to light the upper and lower paths of Gill Banks which we achieved with some hard work from Geoff who made nearly all the blanks whilst Bernard and Elisabeth Ellis decorated about 25 about forty people in all decorated the pots - many of them children. See this Youtube video.

October 31st 2010 saw the raising of the target for candle lights raised from 300 to 1000 - some of these still remain upside down in the bushes.

Wax Lyrical (Colony Candles) of Lindal provide the thousand candles). The concept of filling loo rolls was used then for the first time came from Gladys Hobson whose son revealed the concept. 20 larger spike lights were used to dramatic effect above the pottery on The Railings - wax overflow still to be seen.

The visual effect in 2010 year was intensified by having a small talented musical group of three musicians who played music to enhance the experience.

Because the 2010 candle lights still had many burning hours available they are again being used. Also because of the high work intensity using of candles all over the wood and the lack of helpers these are being kept for the paths. What is new is having some 60 larger flames which are being used for the first time to light up the beck as it runs along close to the beck.

The making of new spike lights has been limited to 15 this year made by six potters and one family.

What is very special is that we now have two musical groups playing involving with some very talented new singers who know how to create eerie music suited for the occasion. Rita Baugh is one of them.

We anticipate to have about 10 helpers on the Monday afternoon .

As much work as possible will be done over the Saturday and Sunday in preparing the path making it safe, free of slippery leaves and dog dirt.

Most people make a real effort to dress up - so much so it's difficult to tell who is who. At this time many parents are making costumes for themselves and their children.

There is no charge for the event which will cost very little to actually run this year as most of the pottery and candles were made last year and the year before. The walk itself costs are about twenty pounds with additional low costs for drinks afterwards. Some funds will be need next year for pottery and candle supplies.

No policing is required for the event : the numbers so far have been in the vicinity of 200 participants. who walk without torches in order to see the lights more effectively.

The greatest need is for involvement in making pots, candles and wax flames and musicians and workers on the night, not for money.

Next year's event will be on a Tuesday evening.

The event now has it's own Facebook page : " Ulverston Candlelit Walk"

Assertiveness

2011-10-22T18:03:00.000+01:00

As posted (with a couple aof corrections!) on Colin Williams' blog :

Colin,

Glad you're raising this issue in UTC as well as the police.

This is an issue like many others where I believe the general public can take effective action - my top project is to document on my camera and then support the police as they prosecute any one I see driving a vehicle while on a mobile phone. I've had three near misses and caught one so far. ( The latest, a fortnight ago, was a guy driving a small white van with PPS written in large letters: he was stuck in traffic beside me near the Coro on his phone. I was getting out of my car to challenge him when the lights changed. I followed him trying to get close enough to get his number, until the open road of the A590 just past Booths. This time he got away.)

I've just returned from a country where it is in the culture to get everyone to obey the law (An oversimplification).

They are what I call assertive: if someone does something they don't like they tell them, if someone asks for help, they they help if it's genuine. As everyone does this as second nature then it's no big deal to tell someone you don't like what they're doing and it comes easily - here I find it really hard work).

With a culture like this the police act only as back up.

So in the New Market situation you highlight we could all stand in front of cars and make them stop and then ask them what they think they are doing.

For my part I have moved back notices and bollards so that it's clear that cars are not allowed to drive down this street on Market days.

Please Colin start setting the example of being assertive and telling people off. The police need only intervene when the situation gets more aggressive which in my experience it never does: the worse that happens is you get some swearing and are told to "fuck off and mind your own business".

If we all were more assertive, many things would improve dramatically.

This is the direction, I believe, we have to go in times of financial hardship. We, the public need to take charge.

How about Sgt Johnston organising some courses in public assertive behaviour?

* * * * *

I am starting on this theme of "Assertiveness" by only publishing comments if they are accompanied by a real name - there will no doubt be exceptions - and finding out who is "real" will also be problematic.

See how we go!

If you haven't the courage to give your name; surely this poses lots of disadvantages not only for us but for you too.

October 31st 6:30pm

2011-10-11T03:49:00.001+01:00

Worth investigating

2011-10-10T16:54:00.000+01:00

Please keep an open mind to the possibility that global warming can actually lead to freezing winters as we had last year.

I'd be interested in your findings of what scientists are saying and what theories they propose.

Surprisingly I can see some logic in this belief , but am still trying to understand.

The reduction in the ice cover at the north pole and the resulting volume of cold water from the melted ice may be responsible.

Staggering number of comments arriving

2011-10-09T11:59:00.000+01:00

But they're all from robots trying to promote their own interests.

Real people have disappeared.

Just shows me how fickle the blogging community really is and why I'm right in concentrating on people who you can look square in the eyes and talk directly to.

There is no doubt a place for blogging here but it comes way down my list of other alternatives of human communication.

The topics I'll be tackling next are:

The very disappointing use of our allotments - with many not being used at a time when there is a long waiting list of people wanting them (60 , I believe). - My local rep believes that the council just pay lip service to the concept of throwing people off plots they aren't using. - I'm gathering opinions as to what system the users actually would prefer : there's a strong case for taking it away from the Ulverston Town Council to run and instead handing the running to the allotment holders themselves.

Repair of the Cobbles down Market Street - Having ripped up the cobbles between New Market Street and Brogden Street that were perfectly good, Cumbria County Highways are now stating that they won't be continuing the replacement of the really bad ones until next year ( Does that mean never? Will the work be done when trade is quiet - January and February for instance? Would this mean in 2013? )

With elections coming up next year, do we need a completely new type of councillor to match the challenges our town faces in the future?

A visit to the Ulverston Scrap Store

2011-10-06T18:26:00.000+01:00

This organisation is run and funded by a remarkable woman who has decided to do this demanding project to enable us to use, at very low cost, materials and products that would otherwise be thrown away.

We in Ulverston are very lucky to have her come here to her store every Tuesday afternoon between 2 and 5pm every Tuesday whatever the weather.

There are lots of other interviews of people in Ulverston on this blog:

Click the label "interview" or this link to past interviews

Our next community activity

2011-10-05T15:26:00.000+01:00

We're putting a fair bit of work in preparation for the Walk in the Dark lit only by burning wax on October 31st at 6:30pm

Here's what someone has written about their last year's experience:

ALL-HALLOWS EVE & A VERY SPECIAL WALK

Last year we saw a little note in the Evening Mail from Geoff Dellow asking for donations of jam jars. Some 800 were needed to light the path up Gill Banks. We were so pleased that we’d remembered to go there on the Sunday evening, All Hallows Eve. It was magical and such an antidote to all the commercialism and hype that now surrounds what is often known as “trick or treat night”.

Not only was the path lit but there were lights dotted above and below it in the woodland. Accompanying us was the sound of running water in the Gill. At the place in the circular walk where you turned back musicians were quietly playing. At the finish there was a sight to attract the children, a haunted house with evil scarecrows peering out of every window. Nearby were some attractively carved pumpkins along the wall. Finally were greeted by a cheerful group of helpers offering us a choice of welcome refreshments.

It was such a peaceful sociable event underlining the communal spirit of Ulverston and such an appropriate event ……. lights in the darkness. Just as we remember the first lantern procession that is now part of Ulverston life it would be good to think that this one too will become a local tradition.

I’ve just met Geoff who tells me that the event will be on again this year on Monday 31st October. They don’t need and jars but the musicians have moved on to college so some new players would be welcome. Other help is needed too. Should you be interested or just like to know the opening time Geoff can be contacted at gd@tygh.co.uk or Tel. 480 347.

David and Janet Fellows.

Note : you may wish to follow the latest activities of this event on our new Facebook page where there is a lot of information.

Our Mill Dam Picnic Table goes missing

2011-09-30T10:41:00.000+01:00

Just when it's needed !

With this gorgeous weather people are coming from all over to meet each other while their children play.

With all the flowers and pottery, the park is looking great and people are understandingly using it more and more.

People are coming here from Croftlands, South Ulverston and even Dalton and Backbarrow.

Yet the SLDC Parks Department have chosen to remove one of the picnic tables, we are told, for repairs to one leg.

We appreciate their involvement but it is now a whole week since it was taken away and our enquiries yesterday and today have so far failed to determine when the table will be returned.

Although appreciative of their involvement in repairing the table, we are very capable of promptly doing all repairs ourselves since we made it with new materials we supplied in the first place.

We would far prefer the Parks Department focused on repairs they said they would help us with two years ago.

One is the bench that has had missing seat bars all this time. Eighteen months ago SLDC said that they would provide the wood to repair it, if they couldn't do the work themselves.

Even more important is for a satisfactory way of closing one of the gates to be implemented. The one in question uses a weak latch which vandals have broken twice in the past two years. Could the SLDC not replace this with a loop similar to the one they placed on the other gate last year?

This has been a great success.

The BUGs, a group of local people the have put a lot of work into improving the park. They hope that their efforts are recognised so that greater cooperation between them and SLDC develops during these times of limited resources.

The BUGS believe they are doing their part in not only improving the park but in keeping it tidy thus minimising work for SLDC contractors.

Could we have some consideration in return?

As soon as we get more information we'll post the outcome here.

Candlelit walk on Monday 31st October at 6:30

2011-09-30T05:39:00.000+01:00

Plans are well under way to repeat this very successful event for the third time when we walked up Gill Banks in the dark lit only by candlelight with drinks and goodies afterwards.

Last night we did a test run in the wood with the extended use of the flames that we used last year. The results were quite spectacular.

We appear to be attracting two groups of musicians to play and sing on the night.

Our very small team are working very well. Let us know if you'd like to get involved - the more help the better the show! We are at present restricted to what we can do by the number of helpers available on a this Monday afternoon.

Support Palestine at the UN

2011-09-24T06:04:00.000+01:00

I've just received this.

Let's not allow this new intitative to support Palestine to slip away.

Dear Amazing Avaaz community,

Emergency -- within hours, President Abbas will decide whether to stand up to US pressure and let the world vote on Palestinian statehood, or leave New York with nothing achieved. Let's flood our governments with phone calls and messages telling them to stand behind Abbas, and send a massive wave of support to him to stand strong -- it will be delivered by an Avaaz flotilla of ships that will sail past the UN tomorrow morning:

Today, Palestine's bid for statehood could be dead for months, unless we save it. On Wednesday night, US President Obama met with Palestinian President Abbas, and likely heavily pressured him to avoid a full vote of the United Nations assembly, a vote that Palestine would certainly win. Yesterday, the pressure seemed to be working, with the Palestinians backing off a vote.

It will be a tremendous disappointment to the world and Palestinians for this moment to pass with nothing accomplished. It will undermine peace and feed hopelessness, extremism and violence. But we can still turn it around. In hours, Avaaz will bring a 'flotilla' of ships up the river next to the UN, covered in massive banners. Another boat of journalists from the world's major media will film the flotilla and interview our spokespeople. If we can say that in just 12 hours, 250,000 people have called on Abbas to stand strong and let the world vote, it will help define this moment in the media -- influencing Abbas' decision about whether he can answer the call of history.

This week, Avaaz met with several foreign ministers and our rally in New York to deliver our 1 million-strong petition made news everywhere. But the US lobbying is furious - we urgently need to call on Abbas to stand strong and each of our countries to stand with him. Click below to sign the petition and urgently message/telephone/facebook/twitter key governments and leaders, or leave comments on key press articles to shape the media narrative of this moment. We have just hours before President Abbas addresses the UN with his decision, let's do all we can:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/urgent_18_hours_for_palestine/?vl

The bid for statehood is a peaceful, moderate, diplomatic attempt to move towards peace and give Palestinians hope after 40 years of occupation, oppression and colonization by Israeli 'settlements'. It would provide for a more balanced and fair peace process between two equal and legitimate states. Avaaz-sponsored polls and others show that large majorities of people across the world support this move. But Israel's extremist government, with its powerful US political lobby, is determined to kill this sensible proposal and keep Palestine weak, offering instead more years of fake peace talks while they colonize more Palestinian land. Ironically, these extremists threaten Israel even more than they do Palestine, since growing numbers of Palestinians are giving up on two states and deciding to embrace a long term struggle -- one they liken to South Africa's anti-apartheid struggle -- for a single secular democratic state with equal rights for all ethnicities and faiths -- effectively the end of Israel as a Jewish state.

Something big is going on here. President Obama says a Palestinian state can only be granted out of negotiations with Israelis. But when Israel applied to the UN for statehood, the US didn't require that Palestinians agree to it. The US rhetorically backs pro-democracy demonstrations in Libya and Syria and elsewhere, but when Palestinians seek freedom, Washington does everything they can to block it. That kind of bias, where a staunch, even blind Israeli ally is the only 'peacemaker' we have is partly why this conflict has persisted for decades. But finally the world has had enough -- 127 nations, including Brazil, India, China and, now, France have stood up to call for a new direction. If others join them, the era of US/Israeli hegemony over this conflict may be coming to an end, with a much wider and wiser set of global and regional voices, especially the voices of the people themselves, to replace it. It all comes down to the next few hours -- let's get the world to stand up, and make it happen:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/urgent_18_hours_for_palestine/?vl

Abbas is likely to present his bid for statehood and UN membership to the UN Security Council tomorrow, but that small body is controlled by a US veto, and the US can refer his request to a technical committee that will bury it for months. But in the UN General Assembly of all nations, the US has just one vote like any other country. The General Assembly can't fully admit Palestine to the UN, but it can declare Palestine a state, with access to a range of international organizations, like the International Criminal Court, that will improve the rights of Palestinians. UN recognition of statehood will also give greater international legitimacy to non-violent Palestinian efforts to disrupt the Israeli military occupation and illegal colonisation of Palestinian land.

President Abbas is right now preparing to deliver his speech.. At a reception on Wednesday he was reported by the New York Times as saying "I am fed up with all these people, and I don't know what to do". The hopes of the Palestinian people are riding on a man who, after being repeatedly betrayed and undermined by the US, is losing hope himself. But a large majority of the world, and 80% of his own people, support his goal. Let's ask him to put his hope in the world and the call of his people, let the world vote to recognize Palestine, and then trust the world and his people to help that new state flourish.

With hope,

Ricken, Emma, Wissam, Nicola, David and the whole Avaaz team

SOURCES

Avaaz protests in front of the UN get international coverage (BBC)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-15013229

Detailing pressure on Abbas and his frustration (NYT)

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/22/world/at-un-a-moment-for-abbas-to-shed-arafats-shadow.html

Avaaz poll showing support for Palestinian independence (Guardian)

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/sep/12/recognising-palestinian-state-public-approval

Polling of Israeli and Palestinian support for UN vote (Jerusalem Post)

http://www.jpost.com/DiplomacyAndPolitics/Article.aspx?ID=238855&R=R1

French support for statehood bid (France 24)

http://www.france24.com/en/20110922-sarkozy-gain-most-plan-palestinian-state-un-assembly-obama

Former Israeli diplomats: Recognize Palestine (YNET)

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4080609,00.html

A brief glimpse

2011-09-23T12:20:00.000+01:00

Of the lantern procession held last Saturday

There are better videos there on Youtube!

Another amazing concert at the Coro

2011-09-23T06:29:00.000+01:00

The Manchester Camerata visited us again with brilliant musicians, fantastic music and a superb conductor.

Sadly the hall was less than half full so we're in danger of losing them next year. If this happens we'll have to travel to Manchester or Preston for simlar quality.

If you enjoy good musicianship of any kind, the quality here is sky high and you can bring children free.

I started coming to concerts and enjoying them at the age of nine. . .

I've returned from this concert, re-envigorated to practice the piano even more.

It's wonderful to be able to make music for oneself. The instrument one plays gives back so much. This is my prime goal at the moment and one of the reasons I don't post much.

I'm too busy taking care of myself and my own problems. I find that I need to spending time with real people who are positive ; blogging comes very low down my list of priorities.

The lantern procession last night

2011-09-18T10:02:00.000+01:00

As ever, this was a wonderful event.

Rather than try to capture it on 'film' I chose to go out and enjoy it to the full. I did this by showing my appreciation of all the positive energy I experienced in every way I could.

I thought the quality of the lanterns was sky high

Thank you to all those that put so much work into making it all happen.

I have one bit of video I couldn't resist taking but haven't looked at. Should any one want to experience my take on this event then I point them to what is already on the internet. In many cases involving the same people as last night.

For many aspects of the Lantern procession event which were repeated this year, have a look here at what happened in 2007

For video of the procession then see here

The Bright Side - here in Ulverston.

2011-09-10T17:13:00.000+01:00

This is the sequel to. . . . . a sick society

At a recent discussion at the Lantern House, I was reminded that we all have four basic assets:

Time : you could argue that we all have equal amounts of this in any one year.

Physical energy : we all have differening amounts of this which is also true of :

Money.

The fourth however I believe is by far the most important :

Emotional energy.

We all seem to understand what this means.

For me it represents the energy that gets me out of my chair (or bed) and provides the impetous to get up and do something.

It is often the opposite of the feeling that leads us to wanting to watch television. Here we get into a state where we have no emotional energy and want someone else, no matter how remote to take over our lives.

Many of us have masses of emotional energy to get out of work quickly, get in the car, know the fastest route home, drive the car to be quickly through the intersections and along the road , know where to park most effectively, get into our home and sat in our favourite chair with a drink and then . . .

Vroomf - someone pricked the bubble. We've collapsed in a heap of inaction and grateful for the fifthrate attention of 'the box.

That's it for the reserve of emotional energy - it's pretty near empty. This is the feeling I associate with depression.

So where does the next top up come from?

Does it come from television?

Or elsewhere.

If it comes from elsewhere why don't we cultivate it?

I suspect there's a way of maintaining this reserve of emotional energy so that we move with satisfaction and energy from one self motivated activity to another.

I now have some pressing tasks that I want to do before continuing !

But I'll be back with the concept of "prosociality" a term coined by David Sloan Wilson for something that is widely practiced in active communities. Wilson is a professor of biology and anthropology at a NY State university.

I like it because it's what I attempt to put into practice - it's good to find someone who validates ones thinking.

The National Health Service - A crunch vote coming up

2011-09-06T18:26:00.000+01:00

I must admit that I don't understand the issues.

With the news focus on

Libya, Libya,Libya,

and

Gaddafi, Gaddafi, Gaddafi, Gaddafi, Gaddafi, Gaddafi,

It's been difficult finding the real news on the important issues that are going on behind the scenes.

However I've received this which is clear from one view point.

So until I get my tired brain (I've been overdoing things recently) to understand the issues I'm posting it as it attempts to inform us and stimulate action.

Perhaps others that understand the issues better will chip in and add their views.

* * * * * * *

Over the next two days, our MPs vote on the future of our NHS. Liberal Democrats are talking about a rebellion. [1] And Conservative MPs are nervous – they've been busy trying to spin their way out of trouble on the NHS all summer. [2]

38 Degrees members have sent over 40,000 emails to MPs from all parties in the last week, and now others are speaking out too. Powerful doctors and nurses’ groups are queueing up to say this bill is bad news for patients. [3] The British Medical Association sent shockwaves with their official verdict, calling on MPs to either make major amendments, or kill the bill. [4]

This week, anything could happen. This is the moment to make sure our MPs are in no doubt: we want them to say no to these dangerous changes to our health service right now. Click to send your MP an email:
https://secure.38degrees.org.uk/nhs-crunch-vote

MPs must choose whether to protect our health service from changes that could take us down the road to US-style healthcare, or whether to toe the government line and jeopardise the NHS that’s been looking after us since 1948.

We know the NHS isn’t perfect. But every day, nurses and doctors deliver babies, treat illnesses and look after people at the end of their lives – striving to be true to the founding vision for the NHS, that it cares for all of us from “cradle to grave”. [5]

Imagine someone you love being diagnosed with a serious illness, and having to worry not just about how you’ll cope, but how you’ll pay for their treatment. We know that country – it’s called the United States of America. [6] That could become the reality here if we don’t stop these changes.

Many MPs are already wavering and working up the courage to vote no. [7] The government is frantically trying to spin their way out of trouble. [8] It’s time for a huge, people-powered push to call on our MPs to do the courageous thing - click to email your MP:
https://secure.38degrees.org.uk/nhs-crunch-vote

Even if we don't win the vote, we can still save the NHS. The closer this week’s vote is, the more the House of Lords will be compelled to go over every last detail of the proposed changes with a fine-tooth comb, knowing how controversial it has been. That’s why we’re not backing down, we’re ramping it up. Click to send your MP a message now:
https://secure.38degrees.org.uk/nhs-crunch-vote

Thanks for being involved,

Johnny, Hannah, Marie, Becky, Cian, David and the 38 Degrees team

PS: People power built the NHS. After the Second World War, politicians and the public demanded a free health service for everybody. Together, they created our NHS. Now politicians are trying to undo that incredible achievement. The main thing standing in their way is people power. That’s why we need to convince our MPs to protect our NHS. Click to send your MP an email:
https://secure.38degrees.org.uk/nhs-crunch-vote

NOTES:
[1] http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/8739621/Liberal-Democrat-talks-to-decide-which-way-to-jump-on-NHS-reforms.html and http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-14778406
[2] http://blog.38degrees.org.uk/2011/09/02/nhs-legal-opinion-respond-to-your-mp/
[3] http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/8738561/New-NHS-could-be-more-complex-and-costly-warns-nursing-chief.html
[4] http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2011/sep/01/bma-letter-mps-nhs-reform
[5] The phrase was used in the Beveridge Report which was the beginning of the modern welfare state: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Welfare_State.
[6] Thousands of Americans die every year because of the inadequacies of the US healthcare system: http://kristof.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/09/12/nikki-white-and-health-care/?apage=7 and http://www.seattlepi.com/local/opinion/article/Surviving-the-U-S-health-care-system-1242239.php.
[7] http://www.politics.co.uk/news/2011/09/05/tough-test-for-lib-dem-loyalties-as-nhs-refor
[8] We’ve responded in detail to Conservative and Lib Dem spin here: http://blog.38degrees.org.uk/2011/09/02/nhs-legal-opinion-respond-to-your-mp/ and here: http://blog.38degrees.org.uk/2011/09/02/exposed-liberal-democrat-response-to-independent-nhs-legal-advice. Also it has been revealed that fears about privatisation may have been well-founded: http://www.spinwatch.org/blogs-mainmenu-29/tamasin-cave-mainmenu-107/5452-nhs-reforms-plunged-into-fresh-turmoil

Learning to pace oneself in a sick society

2011-09-05T09:09:00.000+01:00

All humans have a phenomenal potential

We see it regularly in front of our very eyes.

"Mo Farah makes history with 5,000m gold."

"Phillips Idowu, having jumped 17.70m, his best this season. When challenged by Christian Taylor with an amazing 17.96m he responded with an improved 17.77m."

“Wayne Rooney goes on the rampage’ with two well coordinated goals for England.

"A team of six row to the north pole."

Yet we – also humans with similar potential – choose to watch it all on television.

We are drawn to the activities of "celebrities".

Some will be inspired to do well at something themselves having been shown how it’s done.

Most of us in the UK will just watch. . .

“Viewers watched an average of three hours and 45 minutes of television a day in 2009, according to research published today by the media regulator Ofcom. TV continues to take centre stage in people's evenings, boosted by the popularity of shows such as The X Factor, Britain's Got Talent and Doctor Who.

"Television still has a central role in our lives. We are watching more TV than at any time in the last five years,"

When we meet others, what do we talk about – invariably what’s been on tele.

Is this not a terribly sad fact?

When I went round door to door to half the homes in Ulverston, campaigning for a whole year for the County Council post what did I find?

Yes, you’ve guessed, – the persistent glow of the television screen with people sat watching.

Surely this is the true meaning of Cameron’s “Sick Society”.

With the wealth of information that is available through the internet, how many of us use it and for how long, to do something new for ourselves.

You could imagine that with all the stimulation and resources at our disposal in our country, our society would be a hive of activity.

Not so – a large proportion of us instead suffer from loneliness and depression

We’ve all been subjected to endless news from Libya after the worse riots in history.

How sick is that?

Bury the bad news and escape to a world that has little to do with us.

Tomorrow - or at least soon - I’m going to look on the bright side, here in Ulverston, because this is where I’ve been for the last week or so – hence the absence of postings.

There are some people here who choose to get out and use their time to enjoy themselves with others with the sense of achievement that comes from a job well done.

This is really important

2011-09-01T22:22:00.001+01:00

Yes.

There really isn't anything more important to us and yet all the time we're distracted by other issues.

By comparison they aren't important at all.

It seems to me that if this campaign is successful in Australia then other world countries, like our own, will start taking this matter realy seriously.

* * * * * * *

Australia is about to pass a law that would slash carbon emissions and get polluters to pay. This is the front line in the fight for our planet's future -- if we win, it could spur bold global action. But Rupert Murdoch and big polluters are fighting hard to kill the bill, spreading messages of fear across the country. We can help drown out Murdoch's mantra with messages of hope from across the world and help pass the law -- join in now:

Right now, a major climate fight is blowing up in Australia -- the government is about to pass a law that would cut carbon emissions and get polluters to pay. But big businesses, backed by Rupert Murdoch, are trying to kill the bill.

This carbon pricing law is a win-win measure -- it will push dirty businesses towards clean production and generate more resources for working families. If it passes, it will spur other major emitters to follow suit and could be the next best hope for our climate. But Murdoch's megaphone of fear is massive -- he owns seventy percent of Australia's press. If together we can drown out his campaign to crush the bill with messages of hope from across the world, we could help it pass.

This battle is being fought on the Australian air waves now. Sign the urgent petition to back this bold initiative and share it with everyone -- when we reach 250,000 signatures, we’ll run inspiring radio ads that deliver our global messages, lay out the benefits of the law and rouse public support:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/australian_carbon_price/?vl

We are all under threat from climate change -- including the droughts and storms that cause forest fires, floods and failed harvests. Australia’s proposal would start to shift its economy to halt it. The measure would make polluting companies pay, encouraging them to become more efficient while funding technologies of the future and increasing support to the most needy. Yet Murdoch -- who has a long history of supporting climate denial -- has joined with mining companies to spread wild predictions of job losses and economic doom.

Countries like Denmark, Sweden and Costa Rica have already introduced carbon-pricing, spurring innovation and reducing pollution. If we now embolden Australia -- the worst rich country per person carbon polluter -- to follow their lead, it will generate momentum for other major emitters such as China and the US to follow suit, boosting our chances of a global climate deal next year.

Avaaz members across the world have been strong campaigners on climate change -- our actions together have often influenced governments and companies. Right now, Australia’s people and political leaders need our support to face down the profiteers and renew our hope in climate solutions. Let’s remind our Australian friends that they're not alone in this crucial climate fight:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/australian_carbon_price/?vl

Politicians and businesses often think short-term, when long-term action is needed. When our people-powered movement counters these tendencies and proposes a clear vision of the future we want, we bring out the best in our leaders. Let’s shore up Australia’s resolve, then approach other governments until we achieve the global climate deal the world needs.

With hope,

Alex, Stephanie, Ben, Alice, Emma, Ricken, Giulia, Carol, Rewan and the whole Avaaz team.

MORE INFORMATION

Australia plans to impose carbon tax on worst polluters (BBC)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-14096750

Australia plans to put a 'carbon price' on industrial emissions (CNN)
http://articles.cnn.com/2011-07-10/world/australia.carbon.emissions_1_carbon-tax-carbon-emissions-tax-cuts?_s=PM:WORLD

Australia overtakes U.S. in per capita carbon emissions (Bloomberg)
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=aN60ck4Sz4iE

David Cameron supports Australian carbon tax (The Telegraph)
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/australiaandthepacific/australia/8673736/David-Cameron-supports-Australian-carbon-tax.html

Political will, public doubts on Australia climate policy (The Economist)
http://www.economist.com/blogs/banyan/2011/07/australias-carbon-tax

Murdoch media attacks carbon tax proposals (Independent Australia)
http://www.independentaustralia.net/2011/politics/carbon-tax-and-the-parallel-universe-of-limited-news/

Making Pottery in Mill Dam Park

2011-08-26T19:10:00.000+01:00

Between 11 am and 4 pm tomorrow, Saturday 27th we'll be in Mill Dam Park with tables and equipment to help you make something out of clay. This will be fired and could be mounted in either Mill Dam Park itself or attached to the railings in Gill Banks.

We've chosen Mill Dam Park rather than Gill Banks because this provides somewhere for children to play and for people to sit and chat at the picnic tables there.

This event will also provide an opportunity to discuss future activities of the BUGs. Tea will again be available.

In order to deal with any rain we've bought a ten foot square Gazebo that will provide shelter.

We look forward to meeting you.

Dealing with gang culture

2011-08-23T18:04:00.001+01:00

This approach impresses me.

Like most things that work it demands commitment over a long period.

It also requires a lot of hard work from the police and supporting services. How can this be done if staffing is cut?

With a government that appears to want quick fixes and with a fickle media that follows the topic of the moment, do we have people of character who will take an issue and pursue it long after it is out of the headlines?

This is my main criticism of most politicians: they don't appear to stick at a task and see it through.

Too often we see headline grabbing people who are good at impressing the mass superficial readership of the media.

Perhaps this is where blogs may offer an alternative though I would prefer in depth reporting that is found in papers like the Independent where a few issues are worked on regularly and persistently:

An attitude of patient chipping away at a problem and praise for every single action that improves a situation in the long term.

Mark, what we have seen happen in our schools is the eroding of good teaching. Far too many good teachers resigned during the last fifteen years because they were being thwarted from teaching well by artificial aims that produced quick results.

League tables became the criteria of measurement - fine as long it stayed as a measurement but when it became a goal then the system of good teaching needing patient steady perseverance became eroded.

People with experience and initiative threw in the towel and found more satisfying work elsewhere and were replaced with keen but pliant people who went through the motions, lacking experience and support from more mature colleagues.

Teaching is a hard profession - the most difficult years are the first. The system is so overstretched there are few experienced colleagues available to support.

Of the local schools, Dowdales in Dalton impresses me but a lot of teachers there may carry a very heavy work load.

I need more hard facts from statistics to continue otherwise I'm writing about impressions and not reality. My quick search of Google failed though I now know that the answer will be buried in the UK National Statistics web site .

How does one cope ?

2011-08-22T06:03:00.001+01:00

Knowing that thousands of humans are going through incredibly hard times as they try to avoid starvation in the regions near Ethiopia.

I see pictures of these people who have such strong faces and body language. People that come across as having such a strong character that one is full of admiration.

They are humans on this planet who happen to have been born in Africa whilst I was born here.

Two worlds so different.

I find it so hard to imagine their situation.

The problem is so great that it makes me run away and want to ignore it.

Now thinking about it, I remember something that I have repeated to myself many times before and it casts a ray of hope.

When dealing with a very big problem: concentrate on a very small part.

When faced with shifting a lorry load of earth: don't think of the huge pile but concentrate on digging and moving the next spade full. This, one knows is managable. Then it's just a matter of repeating the operation and concentrating on one action at a time.

Gradually, very slowly, the enormous pile goes down in size and the new one increases until after maybe a few hours - yes only a short time - the enormous pile has been shifted.

One comes out of dealing with this task stronger oneself not only physically but mentally with more self assurance for dealing with any task that comes along in the future.

Yes the famine situation is not one to run away from. Many brave friends are tackling this problem and other massive problems of life and death in their own way. Chipping away with perseverance, becoming much stronger people as they do so. They are indeed a source of great encouragement to me as I witness them cope.

Concentrating on the small picture, over and over and ever again is for me an answer.

Thank you friends for having such strength of character - a great source of encouragement.

Right, let's get to sleep now and in the morning go out with that spade tomorrow to tackle the tasks I want to achieve just one at a time.

I stand to benefit a lot, so as to cope better in the future. The rewards of living alongside people who are also struggling with determination are massive and give a great source of encouragement.

Isn't it great having these kind of people around - next time I want to cheer myself up, I'll look at these pictures of people dealing with famine and other mind blowing hardships for inspiration.

Thank you.

Further thoughts next morning.

Previously I had considered the problem so big that I was inclined to do very little.

Now I've found a different perspective:

I like the look of the people I see, they come across as strong characters.

So I can help enabling as many as I can to survive. These are the kind of people I would like to populate our planet - many will die but those who don't can be a powerful force for good even in their own communities.

Himalayan Balsam in Gill Banks

2011-08-19T14:15:00.000+01:00

After a steady regular tackling of this problem over the past past two months we are on top of it.

That is this side of Ulverston.

This morning we were down to finding just a few plants.

One of them had a great sense of humour.

It was where we didn't expect to find it : lots of shade, nothing much growing - "there won't be any down there", territory.

But there was - one in full bloom - on a little island - ready to distribute thousands of seeds down into the beck below, to be carried down to the patch we had been clearing for all this time.

Now we just have to deal with the plants that come next year from seeds that are still lying dormant ready to germinate when we aren't looking.

With the Balsam gone we can look forward to a much wider variety of plants coming back with the accompanying insects that will attract other wild life.

In anyone sees some upstream we'd like to know.

The World Financial Markets Crash

2011-08-19T08:32:00.002+01:00

So let's have some positive news.

Something we can do something about!

At very little cost and a small amount of effort each week.

The latest from Mill Dam Park - worth a visit!

We're having an event here in a week's time:

Saturday 27th August

Pottery making for The Railings, Gill Banks.

Now

Compare this taken on May 11th

This kind of behaviour is so outrageous

2011-08-18T19:52:00.000+01:00

David Starkey's Newsnight race remarks prompt 700 complaints to BBC.

Yes it's the complaints that I find outrageous not the historian David Starkey's remarks.

If you watch the BBC interview there's some very poor behaviour from two younger people who jump in with emotional reaction along the lines - "you can't say that" - and don't let Starkey finish his sentences.

He quotes Enoch Powell's Rivers of Blood speech which also got a similar reaction so many years ago.

Surely if we don't allow people to put forward arguments, we can learn nothing. Why can't we take both these thoughtful men seriously and consider what they are saying?

If we did we might change our policy a little.

I believe there is an element of truth in his argument and this needs to be examined and discussed - not shouted down or hushed up.

Both Powell and Starkey need to be praised for saying the unpalatable. Powell was immediately diserted by the main Tory party because hs vews were not politically correct. Surely there was and will be some truth there: one doesn't have to accept the argument totally but lets examine the idea objectively.

Starkey was talking about black culture not all black people. But surely it was a mistake to encourage so many of them to come the Britain at the time - we were just taking an easy option at the time of making the most of cheap labour to do jobs the whites didn't want. Now we have a subculture that has never been integrated into British culture.

At the time of encouraging blacks to come we should have made sure that these people were treated as equals.

They were not.

When will we learn to discuss issues like this in the open and call a spade a spade?

Sadly this is not the hypocritical British way.

However the most important is to come up with a realistic solution to our problems. Now is a time to calmly listen to what wise and knowlegeable people have to say. To listen and reflect before we act.

Or if action is needed quickly, to at the same time be ready to admit that we may have part of our actions wrong, stop and try something else.

Allan Wilson again

2011-08-18T18:38:00.000+01:00

Water in a Morecambe fountain

There's beauty all around us when we look carefully. However here we benefit from a fast shutter speed.

An objective view of our politicians

2011-08-18T11:23:00.000+01:00

This report by Aidan Silcocks is reassuring.

He had some good words to say in favour of Ulverston Town Council

For my part I will need a lot more reassuring before getting involved and am giving this group a wide berth.

What I'm looking forward to is some new blood on this council. Next year, with the elections coming will be a great opportunity but who will be willing to stand?

At the moment I find I need to do work that has a positive outcome that avoids hassle.

The suspicion is that energy is better spent out of 'the system'.

Geoff

Anger

2011-08-16T12:42:00.001+01:00

Having watched the documentary on the riots on Panorama on BBC1 last night.

I came away with the perception that what sparked it all off was blind ANGER.

As a person who can feel this very strongly , I can identify with this totally irrational feeling. Trying to find simple answers can be a futile quest if this is true.

I'm going to read the article, the above picture was nicked from before writing any more.

We are going to be discussing the riots in our regular fortnightly group this next Thursday if anyone wants to share their views: Methodist Hall, Hartley St., 2:15 Thursday. We're a group that have been meeting regularly now for about five years.

I read the article and am very little further on as it doesn't deal with anger that real hurts others and this sometimes as in the case of the riots was the way anger was going to be satisfying and make those angry feel good.

Now they, the rioters, have to cope with us feeling angy with their actions.

Are we/they anyway further forward?

From Allan Wilson photographer

2011-08-15T21:23:00.000+01:00

Taken during Ulverston Carnival

War or Peace ?

2011-08-13T14:45:00.002+01:00

We're all coming up with questions and answers.

So am I.

Please help me with mine.

We could ask ourselves:

Which direction are we moving in?

We have two large opposing groups the haves and the have nots. The Government with the ones that are in work and struggling to deal with the bank crisis brought about by too much borrowing of all kinds and the havenots who feel they have no direction to go in - no jobs, little money and as they see it - no future with little to loose. Watching the bankers living of millions of pounds does not help.

At present we are moving in the direction of civil war.

I'm all for a clear message being sent that the rioting behaviour is totally unacceptable.

This is war talk.

At the same time we need to map out an exit strategy.

What this appears to be at the moment is :

If you don't like it - leave !

But then there is no practical place to leave to.

So if we are to have 'peace'.

How do we get there?

By the time honoured method of talking and understanding the opposite point of view.

A strategy where both sides are offered carrots.

If it's a future the rioters want, then surely we need to offer them one:

If you do this this and that then you can get somewhere that you want.

The government has got an option which it seems to ignore.

Raise taxes and use the money to provide jobs with strict guidelines. I'd favour jobs with a fair bit of exercise requiring hard labour and cooperation.

For instance

Building parks in their own neighbourhoods

Enabling people to self build as was done in Lewisham with timber frame houses. (See also)

The people to consult for ideas are those that work at the interface between the two groups of haves and havenots : social workers, youth leaders, people that run hostels, teachers, the police. People with daily contact with the problem groups. Add to these those organisations with a track record of success in getting the havenots involved with society.

Isn't it worth reflecting on what was being said immediately before the riots - on facilities that were being closed watch a video with the views of what seem to be sensible young people - One that ends "There will be Riots, there will be riots, riots" - they were right.

"You can't raise taxes you argue - we're being overtaxed already: this could mean that we have to abandon the concept of achieving 'growth'. "

It is obvious that there are people even here in Ulverston with a lot of money who could be taxed.

If Booths are able to sell at this very moment, cherries at £10 per kilogram, and cheese at £27 per kilogram, surely this proves the point.

Some have amounts of money to spend that many in society cannot comprehend.

Let's make moves towards bringing the two opposing sides together and seek out and support those that are actually working hard to do just this as part of their daily job. Remote politicians making snap judgements are the last people that should be making decisions and we should be making this clear to them if we don't like what we hear.

This is not a soft option. What is needed is a hard tough one but we do need an alternative to prison if this means locking people up to do nothing other than cost the rest of us money and train to show lip service to the system and sadly make better more skilled criminals with a common axe to grind.

Are our police human or just robots keeping the law?

2011-08-12T22:43:00.000+01:00

This article makes us aware just how human the police can be:

"Trying to restrain a shop owner who is attempting to run into a burning building to attempt to salvage his stock, and indeed his livelihood. Taking off my helmet so I can hear him better, he sobs as he explains to me about his life, and how he has built up his trade and now does not know what to do. I simply do not know what to say to him.

"I do something I find myself doing a lot over the next few hours, telling him I'm sorry and then giving him a manly hug with a pat on the back. Helmet back on and we're off somewhere else."

Cameron's criticism of police inaction comes across as that of a typical underhand politician scoring cheap points with the benefit of hindsight.

"The police weren't ready on Monday night".

No neither was anyone else. Crystal balls have not, so far, been issued as part of standard police equipment.

When you reflect that several of the Ulverston Police force will almost certainly have seen duty in Manchester or even London during the past week.

What a baptism of fire:

"As we drove we became a target. A group of people wearing hoods and with their faces covered started throwing missiles at the car," De-Haynes told the Guardian. "We stopped because that is what we are supposed to do. But the windscreen smashed and I was covered in glass, it lodged in my eye and I was spitting it out to stop myself swallowing it. It's a shock in any circumstance but when you can hear the thud of other missiles being thrown at the car, hitting the doors and windows, no matter how experienced you are, it is frightening."

The article goes on:

"Once officers were on the street, they were surprised by the support they received. "A lot of people we came across – people in an inner city area who would normally not have anything to do with the police – were on our side. We had support from everyone in an area. It was good to hear that people did want us to protect them."

I wonder how many people agreed with Cameron.

I certainly didn't and am full of respect for the job that the police did.

Hands on news from Tottenham

2011-08-11T16:41:00.000+01:00

http://www.riotcleanup.co.uk/Riot_Clean_Up.php

Thanks to Gordon Jones of The Gill, Ulverston

I was told that several police officers are being called upon to help in Manchester,

Help set up a Credit Union for this area.

2011-08-11T15:26:00.000+01:00

Rita Baugh has sent me the following

"Credit unions are useful for people who need small loans (say to replace a car or washing machine), and they are also ideal for people who cannot open bank accounts - for example because their income is too small or irregular. They may also be a more ethical alternative to the big banks for those who do not wish to endorse them. More detailed information about what credit unions are and do and who runs them and who they may benefit can be found here: http://www.southlakelandcu.org.uk/slcu/"

* * * * * *

On this web site you can download an information leaflet which tells you:

"Credit Unions are community savings and loans cooperatives. They offer members the chance to save regularly and to access affordable, low interest loans

linked to the value of their savings.

All Credit Unions are owned and controlled by their members, and are run by and for local people, not for profit. Any surplus is paid out as a dividend to savers or retained to develop Credit Union services.

All savings are protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme in the same way as savings in banks and building societies."

In order to establish a Credit Union a minimum of 1000 pledges of support need to be collected from across South Lakeland to prove that there is enough support .

So far 165 people from throughout South Lakeland have already completed individual pledges of support.

Thus if you think this is a good idea you need to encourage family, friends, neighbours and work colleagues to complete pledges of support. They can do this by completing an online pledge at www.southlakelandcu.org.uk

If you need a paper copy of the pledge form please get them to call Gordon Henry on (01900) 607 532 and he will send one out and a reply paid envelope.

Personally I was helped greatly by a Credit Union in the States at a time when banks would not help because I was new to the country. Because the Credit Union knew my background they were willing to give me a loan which enabled me to find a little more cash for a deposit on a much needed house - something then - in the 60s - that was a wise thing to do!

Robinson's Brewery Site

2011-08-10T18:07:00.000+01:00

I've been thinking a lot around this issue and have reduced the argument to what does Ulverston need most on this particular site which is central to the town:

A supermarket or housing with a high degree of affordable and small units suitable for older people.

I come down on the latter.

Several of the housing schemes that have been built recently provide poor housing even modern potential slums that are not being bought by our young people.

The housing at Taylor Court on Stanley Street instead of providing dwellings for local people is being operated as a series of Holiday Cottages called Laurel Court.

The nine units at the Gill end of Upper Brook Street are so crammed in and on to of each other that they will provide the modern day equivalent of the slums of the last century. Living rooms are placed on top of other peoples bedrooms with hardly a view out of many of the windows.

I think that most local young people would rate housing above a supermarket. To achieve an desirable result, I would have thought that the new development would need to be controlled by a housing association so that the units actually reach the local people and not people attracted to retiring here having lived elsewhere.

It could be hard to persuade the planning committee that a rejection of a supermarket will not be reversed by appeal with the force of money on the side of the bullying Supermarket Big Four.

John Harris writes of his experiences in the Stokes Croft area of Bristol which was recently in the news because of local opposition to Tesco.

When it comes to planning this is what can happen:

"The local stories that underlie this picture of endless expansion tend to follow much the same script. Once one of the Big Four has a town in its crosshairs, it can usually be assured of eventual success. If planning permission is initially refused, supermarkets will appeal, knowing that the legal costs to any local authority will be so high it will usually rather cave in – so, though councillors often take a stand, the local officers who fret about their budgets turn out to be more pliable. Just to tilt things the supermarkets' way even further, there are Section 106 agreements, named after the relevant part of the Town and Country Planning Act of 1990, whereby big corporations can swing the debate by offering to fund no end of sweeteners: libraries, public spaces, housing, even schools."

It's not going to be an easy fight to win,

See the web site "Keep Ulverston Special" for the latest news. They also have a petition to sign.

We have until August 19th to send in our views to the planning officer Kate Lawson at K.Lawson@southlakeland.gov.uk

Lessons to learn from the riots

2011-08-10T09:07:00.000+01:00

With a situation like this, the most helpful thing, for me, is to reflect and reassess the role I can play here in Ulverston.

It is not healthy, I believe, to write off happenings elsewhere as though they have no relevance to things that happen on our doorstep.

What most people agree is that the eruption of heartbreaking lawlessness has a multitude of different causes. No one issue is at the core of the violence.

The message for me comes from my experience as a teacher in London in what was seen as a very caring school, whose head set this agenda and was the reason I chose to work at his school. The result of the head's approach was that parents with problem kids sent them to our school from many parts of the area so that we struggled with teaching many difficult children.

The message I took on board is there are a substantial number of children who have parents that couldn't cope with their own kids. One talked to parents where the kids at home set the rules. If the parents couldn't cope then who were the people who would act as parents. The answer had to be - the rest of societies adults. They - we - needed to take part in setting the standards and encouraging youngsters to grow up responsibly.

Many caring adults have taken on teaching to fulfil this role others have become social workers and youth leaders. Most are paid to do this.

Another group of paid workers who help maintain an ordered society are the police - many of these, especially in Ulverston have chosen this career to help society function and do it well.

Now the caring professions are being stretched. It's a time when people who already have full commitments of work and their own families to accept that they have an important role in helping to parent other people's children.

The lesson to learn is that we all need to take on board our reponsiblity to help bring up all the children in our community. It's all too easy to think that because some people are paid to do a job then it's entirely their responsibility.

Regretably there are some people who refuse to engage in problems when they occur, their solution is to move the problem on elsewhere so that an uneasy calm is maintained and disruption exists away from their area.

This strategy appears to work - initially - but the underlying disruption is not dealt with.

The message for us, I believe, is to fully engage in our society and assert ourselves and even help beyond our immediate circle of responsibilities of home and family.

We need to tackle irresponsible behaviour by talking and remonstrating with these people who act disruptively.

In the long term, it does not help to push the problem away from us, to expect that "they" - the police; teachers; social workers; councillors; local government - should be dealing with it.

We need to be part of a responsible society and play an assertive role.

What then could we do today, tomorrow this week to do something positive in the town where we live.

This may need us to get involve with areas of town outside our immediate cosy enviroment and demonstrate involvement with other people in the town so that all sections of our town are kept in touch with each other and attitudes do not polarise into us and them.

When others are experiencing problems we need to first understand them by talking directly and second we need to become part of the solution.

Here's a guy I admire

2011-08-08T14:32:00.000+01:00

Just arrived by email:

Tonight MondayAugust 8 at 9 pm Channel 4

'Hugh's Fish Fight: The Battle Continues' is on Channel 4 tonight, MondayAugust 8, at 9pm - it would be fantastic if you could watch . . .

See

Tottenham

2011-08-08T08:54:00.001+01:00

Stunned.

What lessons can we learn for Ulverston?

Do all we can to foster the building of communities that talk to each other?

Communities that respect the law and the police ?

Thanks to our size we have everything going for us but don't we have the potential for similar problems to the cities. Can't we learn from them?

Tackling even the sign of a problem before it grows.

Atracting interest.

2011-08-06T23:22:00.000+01:00

Big Bums on Pavement is a provacative title for a blog.

I had no idea what it was about but went along and investigated when I found that this page from this blog three years ago, has been attracting a lot of interest recently - the second most viewed page in the last month.

Who do you think is spending their time looking ? - perhaps there are some weirdos who have a strange obsession with bums of any kind - maybe the police are curious about misdemeanors form the past - maybe some, love looking at beautiful cars because they've got fed up of looking at beautiful but unavailable women - after all anyone can buy a beautiful car - with the right amount of dosh.

Do viewers wish for more of the same ? - I'm sure bums like the above are available for snaps most busy weekdays - even in the holidays - after all bums are often more viewable when the sun comes out.

Will they be as beautiful though?

Can anybody explain?

2011-08-06T20:08:00.000+01:00

Why do we read the news?

We end up becoming gleeful that others are getting their comeuppance as in the case of Murdoch et al and that the financiers can't cope but in reality what we need is a completely new set of values where people come first.

This can start now with my neighbour.

Instead what it does is get us depressed or desensitises us so that we don't care about anything because all we see around us are problems.

Isn't it better to focus on a small world and take some action rather than become paralysed, anaesthetised.

I get the feeling that there is so much needing action that it leads me to feel depressed and I do nothing.

Are people so busy that they have lost the ability to stop and reflect. Then they could reorganise their lives so that it became positive again.

Thankfully , I have some friends that remain positive whatever hits them!

And some are being hit really hard.

Thank you friends - I appreciate your ability to cope.

What's wrong with our youngsters ?

2011-08-02T07:04:00.004+01:00

If you take the number of breakages at The Railings - Gill Banks as a measure -

Very little.
For a group that is labelled "mindless, unthinking, reckless and boisterous" they come away with a lot of brownie points.

What's wrong with our councillors and one or two adults who should know better ?

If you take the removal of the picnic tables at the same location as a measure -

Quite a lot.
For a group that has been the responsibility of guiding our society, their knee jerk reaction of "remove those tables immediately - they're on our Town Lands Trust Land" has much about it that should be questioned. These are people who should have a reputation for consultative decisions made in the interests of the majority.

As far as one can determine, the order to remove the tables has come about because some young people were making a lot of noise there recently at around midnight.

Rather than adopt the time honoured solution of going and talking to the boisterous end-of-term, don't-like-the-deputy-head-up-the-road youngsters which the police are normally very good at, David Parratt's attention was drawn to the behaviour.

His immediate reaction, without consulting other neighbours or the majority of local people, was to demand that the tables be removed. This ignored the great pleasure given by these picnic tables during the daytime, enjoyed by large numbers of the public as well as the youngsters themselves.

There is also the suspicion that otherwise responsible adults have taken to throwing one or the tables in the beck. This arises from the fact that this happened on Friday at between 7 and 8 am, not a time when youngsters were seen to be up and about and yet one when said adult was seen inspecting the table moments before. The plot thickens!

Fortunately another neighbour with land immediately adjacent to the original site for the tables sees things very differently. He and his family is very sympathetic to the young people who have used this location to gather for several generations in the past.

Assisted by friends, his land is now being altered so as to provide an alternative site for one picnic table in what should be very attractive surroundings.

If you have views on the issue, comment here or email the councillors involved; they represent the interests of The Town Lands Trust who own the land in question:

or deal directly with the Town Clerk, David Parratt at the Ulverston Town Council.

A question worth posing:

Cannot a good case be made for provision of a picnic area in the town for people to have snacks and chat in quiet pleasant surroundings?

The picnic tables have been donated by a group calling themselves the BUGs. The people that have renovated Mill Dam Park and are clearing Gill Banks of the invasive Himalayan Balsam.

"Let's not make war but sit down and talk"

Meanwhile in Greece . . . .

2011-07-30T15:41:00.000+01:00

Yesterday Greece debt: Austerity-hit Spartans resent Athens

Vasilis's restaurant and catering business faces bankruptcy

"I feel very angry inside," he says.
"When you try to do the best for your country and your children and your neighbours, you still get treated like garbage by the authorities," he says.
"It is psychological violence. Maybe the terrorists we see on the television - this is the process they have gone through."
His words are greeted with nods around the table.

A week ago Greece urges citizens to repatriate money held in foreign banks

Greek money moved mostly to banks in Switzerland and Cyprus. Greeks eager to offload deposits have also been reported flying to the UK with "suitcases full of cash" used to snap up prime properties in central London.
Estate agents in the capital said that over the course of the past year Greeks had scaled the rich list of foreigners acquiring £2m plus properties in Britain "often closing deals in less than a week."

Recently the Greek media reported the case of a man in Crete who had hidden a vast amount of cash in his home only to discover that it had been destroyed by mice.

mouse eaten money

* * * * * * *

It seems to me that the concept of the Euro is basically flawed. It assumes that all member countries have a similar attitude to material wealth.

What happens when some contries don't trust their banks and the govenment controlling the purse strings?

Old Brewery/Supermarket Site

2011-07-30T10:24:00.000+01:00

The public meeting was reported in the Evening Mail with a follow-up articles here - Brewery supermarket pledge and here - Business group backs supermarket battle

Here is a more complete draft of what happened at the meeting which will be updated shortly.

All views regarding this proposal need to reach the planning officer - Kate Lawson soon.

* * * * * *

Presentation
    •    Robinsons currently own 9 pubs in town: 3 are not open
    •    English Heritage say that the three cottages on Brewery Street have no particular importance but various features of the site were earmarked for conservation.
    •    The car park will have 105 space underground and 200? In SLDC car park
    •    There will no more traffic in town it will be retained on Brewery Street
    •    What will the back of the building look like?
    •    At the moment 112 vehicles per week go into the Brewery. The supermarket will need 6 to 8 deliveries a day (7x8=56) so less that is currently experienced
    •    Why?
    •    3 supermarkets are interested
    •    70% of food shopping is lost to Barrow, clawback
    •    Brewery is the only possible site
    •    Regeneration of the town
    •    More footfall in town
    •    Double the present car parking
    •    Jobs kept at Robinson’s (112 full time equivalent jobs at supermarket)
    •    Reduced travel by shoppers

Points raised at the public meeting on 21 st July 2011
    •    Jane Harris, Fountain St: The supermarket is not justified by the report of 2007
    •    Kerry Hutton, Market St: I am a researcher and the Southampton Uni Report gave a summary that was favourable to in town supermarkets but the £50 paid for the full report revealed that 42% of convenience trades thought that such a store would damage their trade.
    •    Mrs Wilkinson?: Why a food supermarket, why not sell to a DIY chain or a store like Wilkinson’s
    •    ? Rydal Rd: Any clawback of food sales would only benefit the supermarket not the other shops in town would.
    •    Paul Kingsnorth, The Gill, Writer and Researcher: Town centre damage and loss of footfall is well documented (1998 Gov. report on the impact of superstores) Why should Ulverston be unique in not suffering damaged trade?
    •    ? Townside : (i) loss of lane on roundabout will mean a reversing of the improvement obtained by the road widening (ii) 2 hours free parking in the Car Park will not be enough time for people to go into town and enjoy the cafes and boutiques
    •    Maggie Hawk 1 mile out of town, used to be a trader in town :Opening Asda in Barrow and Booths had a detrimental effect on the town. Have Robinson’s considered opening up the area to luxury apartments, craft workshops and a Heritage Centre similar to the Brewery Arts Centre in Kendal? If not, why not? The building proposed is very ugly.
    •    Dr Richard Rowland: Has Mr Robinson considered the wisdom of the business decision?
    •    Doug Gillam, Tea Room :Road safety is a real concern as the rise in Brewery Street will obstruct a clear view of the traffic coming up Brewery St to people crossing at the junction of Union Street and Fountain Street. The traffic survey was done in the school holidays so the number of pedestrians may be very unrepresentative.
    •    Glen Rose, Croftlands: Has the consultation with the population come at the wrong place in the discussions? We should have been asked before planning application was submitted. We have one option in response : do not use the place.
    •    Jackie Williams, Sun Street :Is a high-end supermarket proposed? If so why?The answer suggested one of Tesco, Asda , Morrisons or Sainsburys!!
    •    Have compulsory orders already been issued by the Council for the cottages in Brewery Street ? Supermarkets are there for their own profits.
    •    Colin Picthall, Fountain Street: Weatherspoons will be a direct threat to the pubs in town should we join forces with Robinsons against their arrival?
    •    Sandra Buck?, trader in Town : The impact of the Bistro will be enormous It will devastate the cafes in town.
    •    ? Laurel Cottage, opposite the proposed supermarket: The vents for the refrigeration units will emit nitrous oxide into the atmosphere and will damage the health of people living nearby. No answers because the new “owner” will make certain choices that are unknown at the moment.
    •    David Myers: The Town will suffer as it has done over several years with many other changes.
    •    Helen Gilpin, Ainsley Street: Car parking is not adequate at the moment. Where will the staff park. What will happen to the water of the Beck and also from the well within the boundaries of the site?
    •    Back Hart Street: two cottages need to escape over the site in the case of fire. What precautions are being taken for access for this escape?
    •    Tina Henshal, Trader in Market Street: Can we stop this going ahead? Is it Yes or No? Answer you will get one out of town if you do not accept this one
    •    Councillor Williams :SLDC are generally passing all land for housing so why is the land not being sold for housing rather than this supermarket? Sale or lease? Answer The lease is more profitable
    •    ? Hart Street: Has the Car Park been sold by SLDC? Answer. No we have agreed to remodel the car park and use it. Also the Went is to be considered for improvements as part of the deal.
    •    John Lawrence: Which are the eight towns that have been studied for the impact on town centres? Answer: Haydock Cheadle, Gorton,? Shepton Mallet,Ilminster, Warminster,?.
    •    ? Burlington Street: When the work in the car park is being carried out where will all the cars go?
    •    Paul Millard: Why are talking about an out of town supermarket when there is no mention of it in the Development Plan? Answer: If you do not want this plan the supermarket might be placed at Swarthmore (Canal Head has been rejected).
    •    David Jackson, Dale Street: Will 70% of the shopping return from Barrow to the town…..what is the basis for the figure of 70%? Answer: A local survey was carried out by post and telephone (28. How many in the audience none have been asked about their shopping habits. None)
    •    ? Butcher’s shop in Town: Will you undertake to give jobs to all the shop-owners and their employees? Answer No
    •    Phil Johnson: Do you care about the Town or are you just making money with the closure?
    •    See above 25
    •    Christine Johnson: You stood in front of the Heritage plaque in the Brewery Site. Have your values changed? Answer: My values have not changed but the economics have
    •    Confused of Ulverston, Fountain Street: Are the SLDC puling the strings on this issue? The planning is unclear the Car Park issues seem confused with the plan in as much as you are being allowed to alter it to your needs. What is happening to the water running under the Car Park and the Brewery Site?
    •    Will there be subsidence when the underground Car Park is excavated. Answer: there will be 3 metre foundations on the Hart Street side and we do not anticipate and hazards for the public.
    •    Steve Robinson, Laurel Cottage: The site was allocated for 15 houses in the Local Plan (re R256) Answer: SLDC told us, across the table, that this site was preferred for retail use

Note : there may be innaccuracies in the above - please help with corrections.

Ulverston is special - is it? Why?

2011-07-29T21:51:00.001+01:00

In the course of correspondence with Stephen Knott of the Victoria and Albert Museum in London over The Railings pottery project ( http://www.myulverston.co.uk/railings/) he wrote:

"I am fascinated by the general creative environment in Ulverston. I hope that I will be able to visit it at some point in the future to see if for myself."

I replied:

Stephen,

I think the creative environment has a lot to do with the size of the town which has held fairly relatively constant for many hundreds of years (% of total population) - now 12,000 with the closest town Dalton some six miles away.

Being a market town with a long history it has also acted as the centre for the surrounding area . It has had little to do with the far newer Barrow which has a very different culture.

Forty years ago it had thirty active pubs of very varied character; one the Bee Hive was just someone's front room and acted as the home of the Morris Dancers of the area, others had special interest groups like pigeons, folk singing, teachers, historians. The Town has had many breweries - Hartley's was the last substantial one with a strong following and a folk group, Bag of Rags, that sung songs about the beer. They were very good and attracted crowds to their events.

The character of the town attracts creative people to come and live here - John Gill and Sue Fox (www.deadgoodguides.com) found us in the '70s and brought Welfare State International ( http://www.welfare-state.org/) to set up its home at what is now the Lantern House (http://www.lanternhouse.org/ ).

They started us off with several alternative activities on Carnival Day which they ran. It was a great activity which ran out of steam because of lack of support possibly because of too much input came from Welfare State - it's a difficult balancing act.

Some activities like the Flag Fortnight ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vMqGGQutP10 ) and the Lantern Procession have survived but are in danger of being over managed by people seeking the limelight. Our Flag Group came into being because there was the very real worry that the tradition would cease because of lack of support for the then organisers.

For creativity to thrive it needs to be independent of authority. In some senses it needs a cause which can be just bucking against authority and refusing to conform.

In my view those depending on grants have a hard time because the self esteem of the facilitators is put into question.

We also have a school which has attracted some very impressive teachers both now and in the past. Now we have Richard Butler who stimulates small musical groups of all kinds who perform both officially going abroad to events in Europe ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BraWY-oCVXE ) and others that perform both at their own events and perhaps busk in the town to raise money for a pet charity.

In the past we had an outstanding teacher of dance at the same school who also led her pupils on European tours.

We also have several bands that play on a regular basis in the Market Square. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y0XwnsPLYt4

I guess the answer may be that we have lots of little groups operating independently so there is always one that is in the ascendent when one starts to bite the dust.

Thanks for your interest.

I think Ulverston is well worth a detour and now with high speed trains is getting closer all the time - I think 3.5 hours from Euston is possible.

We here don't think of London as far away, we come down regularly for the day - in fact my partner and I will be visiting the Miro exhibition at Tate Modern with a quick visit to Tate Britain and the British Library - within the month.

Best wishes

Remember there's a belief in London that there's nothing much worthwhile north of Watford Gap.

We just feel sad that you're missing out.

Why else would I return time and again having first come here in 1960, lived in San Francisco and London in the mean time and back here to stay?

Geoff Dellow

If you were to write along similar lines what would your explanation be for "Ulverston's creative environment"

Dying - something we don't talk about

2011-07-29T12:00:00.005+01:00

The existence of doctors and the NHS means that when we are ill we focus on them. Entirely reasonable.

But then when we don't get immediate relief, an absurd situation kicks in : we devote all our attention on our illness and choose to ignore the part of us that is still well.

This surely is the way to live : to concentrate on living to best of our ability. This focuses on the quality of life not the depression of illness.

It's an accepted fact that we are going to die, yet I don't believe in British (maybe Western) society we really take this on board and accept the reality that this involves illness or malfunctioning of one kind or another.

Wouldn't our attitude to our life be turned upside down if instead, we concentrated on living rather dying. If something came along that stopped us living in a certain way our immediate reaction could be to look for another way of living instead.

Bartok's Third piano Concerto was performed last week at the proms.

Wikipedia tells us:

Béla Bartók died at age 64 in a hospital in New York City from complications of leukemia (specifically, of secondary polycythemia) on September 26, 1945. His funeral was attended by only ten people. Among them were his wife Ditta, their son Peter, and his pianist friend György Sándor (anon. 2006).

In 1945, Bartók composed his Piano Concerto No. 3, a graceful and almost neo-classical work. He began work on his Viola Concerto, but had not completed the scoring at his death.

This means that with less than nine months to live, knowing he had leukemia, he chose to compose as much as he was able, even though he was without many friends, in a country - the USA - that hadn't accepted him when he had rejected the Nazi regime and left his native Hungary.

"The first symptoms of his health problems began late in 1940, when his right shoulder began to show signs of stiffening. In 1942, symptoms increased and he started having bouts of fever, but the disease was not diagnosed in spite of medical examinations. Finally, in April 1944, leukemia was diagnosed, but by this time, little could be done (Chalmers 1995, 202–207).

As his body slowly failed, Bartók found more creative energy, and he produced a final set of masterpieces, partly thanks to the violinist Joseph Szigeti and the conductor Fritz Reiner (Reiner had been Bartók's friend and champion since his days as Bartók's student at the Royal Academy). Bartók's last work might well have been the String Quartet No. 6 but for Serge Koussevitsky's commission for the Concerto for Orchestra. Koussevitsky's Boston Symphony Orchestra premièred the work in December 1944 to highly positive reviews. Concerto for Orchestra quickly became Bartók's most popular work, although he did not live to see its full impact. In 1944, he was also commissioned by Yehudi Menuhin to write a Sonata for Solo Violin."

The Concerto for Orchestra is one of my favorites - imagine life without it!

For me at the age of 76 this is an amazing story. I am aware that month by month I am in decline yet rather than focus on this frustrating situation I can make the choice of focusing on living to the full as far as I am able:

by reminding myself of this more positive way of thinking.

by attempting to compose on the piano as well. . . . .

by writing my thoughts on a blog.

by aiming to win at chess on a Tuesday evening until midnight.

And so forth with many very enjoyable activities involving people of all kinds

However putting the above basic philosophy into practice is tough with two and maybe even three of my close friends affected.

Scary stuff.

Blog information

2011-07-29T04:18:00.001+01:00

Click on the image to enlarge.

The number of visitors continues to rise steadily.

Not sure why.

Here we compare number of visitors with time spent looking:

To compare with earlier data click on the label "blog" below.

An end to economic growth?

2011-07-27T10:07:00.001+01:00

"Yes, inevitable." writes Michael Bassey

Illustration: Gary Kempston

"In 2000 the Labour government set up a Sustainable Development Commission. In 2009 Professor Tim Jackson, a member of this SDC, produced the report Prosperity Without Growth. He wrote:

"Every society clings to a myth by which it lives. Ours is the myth of economic growth … It's totally at odds with our scientific knowledge of the finite resource base and the fragile ecology on which we all depend for survival."

The SDC was closed by the government in March.

There are plenty of ideas around on how to flatline:

a four-day week for most workers to share around the available work;
community development to protect the vulnerable aged and infirm;
a massive development of allotments to move towards self-sufficiency in food;
energy reduction policies like "the more you use, the greater the unit charge" to move towards self-sufficiency in energy;
and all this supported by adult education via the media that explains the dire predicament of "a finite resource base" and "fragile ecology".

* * * * *

Now we have someone talking sense.

Sadly none of the main political parties other than the Greens put these views forward.

Why?

Because they are too "way out" - we're all geared to the mad scrabble to earn more to survive to pay the mortgage and maintain our feeling of self-esteem by having the latest gadget/car/kitchen house.

Why is it so few people don't refuse to get off this vicious treadmill?

But it's not easy - one has to make a determined effort to think "out of the box".

With the worlds resources being limited and being gobbled up by countries like China - it's time for a rethink.

First, house prices have to come down - which will cause a lot of pain and something the banks would oppose because people would default on their payments and desert property with negative equity.

Somehow we all need to take a responsible approach to our "Big Society" if we are going to survive.

Thankfully , there are some people who believe in "The survival of the kindest" the next twenty years will tell what philosophy works best - that is if we can agree what "best" mean.

I come back to the thought - watch what happens in Greece - maybe it's time after some 2,500 years for Greek thinking to show us the way to think in an alternative way.

For me this picture - outside my window - encapsulates what my life at present is about :

Onions from the allotment drying out for storage

but then I'm one of the very privileged who was born and has lived through "the good times".

This little piggy

2011-07-24T11:03:00.000+01:00

Found a lovely picnic table.

Somewhere to dangle your feet in cool water on a hot summer's day while enjoying bread cheese and a glass of wine.

The perfect end to the long tramp of the Cumbria Way.

Gill Banks Ulverston.

A picnic table caught in a dispute.

Could someone explain?

2011-07-24T08:17:00.000+01:00

Why we don't devalue the pound?

Would this not create jobs because our products would be easier to export?

Would this not make imports more expensive so that we would buy fewer Chinese goods, import fewer foreign cars and hence buy more British products?

Granted, we would find imported raw materials more expensive. But don't we have massive deposits of pure iron ore here in Furness that stopped being mined because of water pumping costs? With wind and water power available on our doorstep, could electricity not be generated relatively cheaply to help with these pumping costs?

The higher cost of imported materials would mean more expensive British products for the home market.

How much copper is still in the Coniston area? Low concentration maybe but we now have the technology to recover this.

Other minerals - Aluminium and Magnesiuim can be generated by electolysis - needing cheap electricity again. Could we not become a net exporter of these minerals?

Does this not make sense?

How true is it that the pound is kept strong for the benefit of the rich?

I'm fairly ignorant on all this - does anyone want to enlighten me?

I'm inclined to Watch Greece Closely

2011-07-23T14:30:00.002+01:00

I start here, listening and watching very carefully:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-13989571

Granted it's three weeks out of date. But even now European Leaders still are not making a provision for Greece or any other country to leave the Euro. This must be the ultimate solution.

Our Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg, is still hooked into a more prosperous Britain and Europe.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-14241345

But does the average Greek agree?

"We, the Greeks, are not accepting reality"

This report from last Friday suggests that Greeks will not accept the requirements that their government must try tries imposed on them:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-14251856

Action being taken at the moment by Greek Taxi drivers appears to support this:

Greece taxi strike hits tourists on Crete and Corfu

A comment made by Peter Marshall during his talk "The Good Life" at the Lantern House on Thursday evening pointed out a different reality.

He said that there was a resurgence of people in Greece working together, first as individuals then as larger and larger groups to challenge a top down society where decisions are made by people at the top and imposing them on those at the bottom.

This sounds admirable but logically leads to the conclusion that Greek will want to escape from the Euro and run its country with values that the people choose and not those imposed from outside.

Not all the people in other countries share the philosophy being expounded by Nick Clegg above that what we want is to become more and more prosperous. What happens when large numbers in a country see other values as important - Fairness for instance.

There's a queue of other countries that may wish to follow Greece if they opt out:

Italy, Portugal and Ireland.

Could we become one of them - by choice?

Surely different people have different values and may not want to follow a common route.

With our close links with Ireland , where will this leave us?

Could it be that we decide to move towards becoming a third world country and abandon the race to become prosperous and devalue our currency and our dependence onWall Street being a world financial centre?

Life is becoming complicated and I suggest we need to re-evaluate what is important to us.

Trying to find what Greeks themselves believe I came across this written in June :

A plea to restore the Drachma

Which starts:

"We write to encourage you – to urge you on in your resistance.

In your defiance, you understand Greece is slave to the interests of private wealth.

You must understand too that it is private wealth that needs Greece. Greece does not need private wealth."