Editorial 21-01-2009

The New Year did not take place on the 1st of January this year, it took place yesterday.
The dark days of greed, war and oppression were given their last rites, as the former president of the world’s most influential country flew away on his whirling dark metal chariot.

 

The sigh of relief from the human and animal population of this planet was almost palpable!
As the new president of the United States of America takes up the challenge, our hopes and prayers from all nations, from all secular and religious people, go with him as he helps steer a path through, what will prove to be, a critical year in the Earth’s history.

In this year we all have to come to terms with the fact that all life on our fragile world is inter-dependable and that our only hope for physical survival is to take a lesson from nature and ALL work together - for a change!!

Let’s get to work, then!

Editorial 13-01-2009
Why do we never learn?!
As President Bush prepares to leave office he is still unrepentant on the carnage he created in Iraq, the devastation to people and environment in Katrina’s wake and even now he has allowed Israel to create a more unsafe world. Western eyes with any heart are sickened by the civilian massacre that is being perpetrated in Gaza, so how much more is the anger in Muslim eyes.

 

To those of us who seek a peaceful world, these acts are evil and lead us to despair. Our hope though, stems from the fact that there are always good peace loving people on each side and it is hoped that their voice of reason calms the maelstrom that those such as Bush have created.

 

The end of the Bush reign in the White House cannot come soon enough for most. Those who edit these pages beg that all who are incited, calm down and realise that vengeful action can only compound suffering and injustice. Only by truly caring for each other and respecting each other can we bring about what most people on our fragile planet wish; to live peacefully and sustainably.

 

Editorial 07-11-2008
Today 4th November, 2008 there really could be a sea change in world politics. Barrack Obama is one of the most liberal minded of credible candidates for the US presidency for decades.
His history and record suggests that he willl be more liberal in action than he is willing to state in his campaigning.

As the world contemplates many crises over the coming decade let us hope that a man of peace and environmental vision takes command.

Editorial 28-10-2008
Today the Climate Bill is discussed in the UK's Parliament. This is a key moment in the fight against human induced global warming. This Bill will set out the targets for one of the G8 members and therefore set a precedent for others to follow. There is danger, however, because the Bill proposed lacks inclusion of aviation and shipping, (mainly because there are vested interests and the blame game for these types of emissions have not been rationally sorted yet). As with most things the simplest solution is almost invariably the best and so a 50-50 divide for responsibility should be undertaken by the nations at the start and end of every journey, by sea or air. This IS reasonable because both those countries are benefitting in some way by that journey, no matter where the goods or passengers originate from.

 

Time is of the essence and petty squabbling will be looked upon by future generations as unjustifiable, criminal neglect.

 

Let us all hope and pray that the British Parliament make the right choice today and give us all a potential future by including the ammendments to the Climate Change Bill that deal with aviation and shipping emissions. We wait with bated breath!  

 

Editorial 29-09-2008

As the Beijing Olympics come to an end they show a welcome co-operation yet competitive camaraderie of the world's nations. We need such resolve to strive for sustainability goals for the future of our planet. By the start of the London Olympics 2012 the world MUST have changed dramatically if we are to have a future at all.
Let us hope and pray that politicians about to take office in these next 4 years are not blinkered to the globe's true needs.

 

Editorial 29-08-2008

If ever you thought that Condoleeza Rice was basically a reasonable caring person such thoughts were destroyed utterly yesterday by her interview with Jeremy Paxman on the BBC’s Newsnight programme. In that interview she revealed that any crime such as torture, incarceration and murder were justifiable if it could in some people’s eyes possibly make America safer from the threat of terrorism.

 

Should she ever come to power in the USA , then Hitler’s barbaric intentions will become just a picnic in comparison. We must all pray that such an evil intending personality never gets to influence human advancement.

 

Let us hope that the traits of likes of Nelson Mandela and Ghandi surface in the next president of that great influential country..

 

Editorial 23-08-2008

As the Beijing Olympics come to an end they show a welcome co-operation yet competitive camaraderie of the world's nations. We need such resolve to strive for sustainability goals for the future of our planet. By the start of the London Olympics 2012 the world MUST have changed dramatically if we are to have a future at all.

 

Let us hope and pray that politicians about to take office in these next 4 years are not blinkered to the globe's true needs.

 

Editorial 17-07-2008

Not satisfied with the prospect of building a 'white elephant' in the shape of a third runway and 6th terminal at London Heathrow's airport, the British Government has just given the go ahead for the extinction of the elephant as a species.
Every animal lover in this country should be 'up in arms' and 'shouting from the rooftops' against such a criminal action against life on our planet. By voting to allow China to accept auctioned ivory it will open the flood gates of poachers who will decimate the elephant herds within 5 years. This nonsensical and abhorant act by the British Government should be condemned outright for the outrage it is. Why is it that only Government officials are ignorant of the fact that there aren't enough resources and manpower in the ranger service in Africa to protect elephants? Surely even the most junior viewers of children's tv programme Blue Peter would seem to have more sense and rationality than our Minister responsible. A black moment in the history of our planet and one perpetrated by a fast becoming discredited government, a truly sad collection of individuals, too embarassing to call people, sitting in their IVORY towers.

 

Editorial 31-05-2008

Today, 31^st May 2008, many thousands will march from Hatton Cross tube station to Sipson village on the outskirts of Heathrow airport.

This is a key moment in our battle to save our planet from eco-destruction. The selfish purveyors of greed want to expand what is already one of the largest airports on the planet, so that it can dramatically increase the greenhouse gases we emit. This is utter madness when our agreed science points to this being the most likely future cause for destruction of our world as a habitable living planet.

If you have chance to get there to march and protest, PLEASE DO! Our Earth needs you!

See www.campaigncc.org 

www.hacan.org.uk

www.make-a-noise.org

www.stopheathrow.org

www.airportwatch.org.uk

www.stopheathrowexpansion.com

www.notrag.org

 

Editorial 14-05-2008
NO THIRD RUNWAY for HEATHROW. 
In an age where it is clear that we are living beyond our means as a species on this planet of ours, it is utter madness to increase the selfish attack on the planet that supports us by planning rapid expansion of air travel. If we are to survive we need to make a stand against this suicidal greed fest.

The battle to prevent unnecessary and unsustainable expansion of air travel with a third runway at London Heathrow is indeed becoming a fight for humanity's survival on this planet of ours. Claims from certain politicians that such expansion is necessary for economic wellbeing is is a declaration of pure greed and irresponsiblity and is a symptom of ballot box short termism.

Help ensure a future for us all and our children, come to the protest rally and festival on Saturday 31st May, 2008. Meet at Hatton Cross at 12 noon. March to Sipson village, threatened with its own extinction by this planned Heathrow expansion. Join the festival atmosphere there and join in the fight for our survival. 

see also: www.campaigncc.org,  www.notrag.org, www.hacan.org.uk, www.2mgroup.org.uk, www.stopheathrow.org, www.make-a-noise.org
 

This is an important issue for ALL OF US and not just residents around Heathrow.