Leila's blog

Mon, Jun 23, 2008

Rolling in clover

I am currently wondering how an intelligent person can come to the conclusion that low carbon food is anything other than local and organic. Th comment that we needed to move to a low carbon food chain was made on today's You and Yours on Radio 4. To anyone with even the slightest grasp of food and farming it is self evident that the lowest carbon option is food that needs the least transportation (i.e. local) and the least carbon inputs (i.e. organic). Organic food uses very little carbon in its production compared to industrial farming - no high carbon based fertilisers and pesticides, higher biodiversity on farm means a greater uptake of carbon by the land, healthier soil keeps in carbon and stores it away. I could go on. It may be more extensive so you get less food per acre, but that doesn't increase it's carbon use. Surely, given that we throw away between 1/3rd and 1/2 of all food bought in the UK we don't need to produce more but landfill less.

Today I also launch my Clover Events website. I recently moved into event organising on a paid basis after many years of doing so as a volunteer. If you are interested you can check out our website here.

Mon, Jun 16, 2008

Weapons of torture

Tomorrow the ‘ Justice for Colombia ’ campaign will be launching a photographic exhibition in the Welsh Assembly building at 12pm. The photos are of individuals who are in danger in Colombia – mainly trade unionists and human rights activists – as well as others such as political prisoners and victims of human rights abuses. This is an excellent campaign whose aims are not only to highlight abuse but also promote peace, so if you are in the area drop by to show your support.

Although not nearly on the same level as Columbia, there has been worrying news for those of us who live under an RAF tactical training area - a Harrier crashed today nearly hitting houses, endangering residents as well as the pilot. These events do not give me any trust that the planes that scream overhead at god-knows how many miles per hour won't crash. Apparently they are reliant on the latest technology and capable of amazing feats.... well I'll sleep soundly knowing that the latest technology never goes wrong. Furthermore, these angels of death disrupt sleep, my children's lessons in school, quiet days in the garden, and somehow manage to send our answerphone wild. The disturbance to daily life throughout the summer is particularly difficult for someone like me who finds the whole existence of these planes an anathema. They are at variance with that needed to bring the stability and security so desperately desired - peace, reconciliation, and hope. I may be being overly Buddhist here, but we can choose not to fight.

Fri, Jun 13, 2008

May you live in interesting times

My respect for David Davis soared yesterday. A politician taking a principled stance, putting their career (and livelihood) at risk to do so. The criticism levelled at him in the media seems unjustified, as if there is no belief that to take a stance can be anything other than a cynical move. Without giving my backing to the Conservative Party as a whole I do extend my personal good wishes to him in the by-election. Shame on the Labour Party that they are looking unlikely to contest the seat, either out of fear or malice. If their stance on 42 day detention is correct they should be willing to publicly defend this and make the argument to the people, the public, who will be at the mercy of the legislation. London Green MEP and member of Liberty's board also criticised the government, saying "Counter-terror powers are already more than sufficient and the counter-terrorism bill as it stands does more to endanger than to enhance public safety."

Also on my radar is the report on the BBC which finally recognises something those of us in Wales and Scotland have known for years - that the Welsh Assembly and Scottish Parliament fail to get the coverage they deserve. As a dedicated radio 4 fan and being without television I have to concur and point out that the problem will not be solved by different news bulletins on the telly alone. The BBC and other broadcasters have to move away from the view that these are irrelevant because they aren't in London and recognise many of their listeners and viewers are not based in the city or tied to the financial institutions there. Space for coverage of all the parliaments (including Europe) and the Welsh Assembly needs to be incorporated into all the mainstream news, even if it is just a line or two, so that a UK broadcaster gives UK coverage.

And finally worried about emergency measures for terrorism? Worried about fuel supplies? No need - the government has combined the two in one easy set of 'draconian laws' to ensure we all (well the police and armed services at least) can keep moving.

Wed, Jun 11, 2008

Survival of the footist

It can be hard in times like these not to say 'we told you what would happen' and to feel smug. However, when it comes to peak oil and climate change the outcomes are so severe that not only is this not nice, it is very unhelpful. So, why do I believe that the message about climate change is coming home? Recent news that there is famine in the horn of Africa from failed crops last year caused by drought; todays news that corn prices have rocketed due to unseasonal storms in the USA ruining large areas of crop; shortages worldwide of rice and wheat as well. Food prices are also increasing in response to rising fuel costs and the diversion of cereal crops into biofuels.
When a system is based around the ability to transfer vast quantities of goods thousands of miles due to a cheap energy source, a rise in the price of energy has a massive impact - first a rise in prices, then a reduction in movement of food, to a (hopeful) final solution of localised sourcing with national and international food transport as a last resort. Oil prices are rising now because for too long the price hasn't reflected its external impacts or scarcity. Now these become apparent the shock of rising prices is beginning to cause a slow but rising panic in the wider populace - as witnessed by the clutch of strikes. Yet the sun is shining and the veg are growing (well some of them) and there is a peace in my surroundings at odd with the news. Perhaps this is because I have the luxury of being able to weather the storm for the time being, because of my relative wealth in the world and the fortune that west Wales is fairly likely to get off lightly from rising temperatures.

So, what hope is there? That the need for a radical overhaul of economic and distributive system will become apparent to those with the ability to change it, and if not, that the preperations of small groups around the world will be sufficient to cope with the new conditions. Oh and the title - feet may soon be rediscovered as our best friends.