Wild Geese

Moving to wordpress

2006-12-03T14:32:10+01:00

This blog is now closed and has moved to

http://geese.wordpress.com/

Threads

2006-11-29T12:26:02+01:00

Last week a former Russian spy, Alexander Litvinenko died of radiation poisoning in London. I've been shocked by the incident, maybe i've been naive, but i didn't expect such a terrible murder to take place in the UK. I would hope with our security measures that radioactive material couldn't be brought into the country, or that controls on the movement of radioactive materials within the UK could have let this material slip through. It really does make you wonder just how safe we are from radioactive materials.

The other evening Ray and were watching a DVD called "Threads". It's written by Barry Hines and caused panic and anxiety when it was first aired by the BBC in 1984. The drama is set in Sheffield and tells the story of Ruth and her fiance as they set up home and prepare for the birth of their baby. However, tensions between Russia and the USA over the Middle East escalates and the first nuclear bomb lands on Sheffield, with a further bombs equating to 200megatons devastates the UK. It's important to remember that in the early 1980s our government still gave out booklets providing advice of what to do in the event of a nuclear attack. I can recall the air raid siren being set off every few months to test it. I hated the sound, and always feared that the next time i heard it it would be for real. I would have been 13 when Threads was aired, and i have no recollection of the programme or the debate around it. Mind you it was broadcast at 10.40pm, and i would have been well tucked up in bed. As a child growing up in the Cold War i feared a nuclear attack, and have always been haunted by the horrific pictures of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

The drama shows the initial effects of the attack - shock, grief, and radiation sickness. In one seen you see a Ruth's future inlaws following the governments advice and making a shelter in their front room using doors and a matress - depite there being a large window in the room, which would shatter in the initial blast. Thus illustrating how useless the information really is. If a nuclear bomb is dropped, there is very little you can do to save yourself - or the planet. The second part shows the affect the radiation has on water, food, and animals. Society as we know it had ended.

It is a brilliantly written programme, one that should be watched by every young adult. It should also be mandatory viewing for all politicians in all countries, on a regular basis to remind them of the folly of nuclear weapons and power.

PM Blair has promised a MPs a debate on the replacement of Trident, i really hope he listens to those opposing the replacement.

Buy Nothing Day 24th November 2006

2006-11-21T11:38:03+01:00

From the Adbuster website:

Every November, for 24 hours, we remember that no one was born to shop, we make a small choice to participate by not participating. If you’ve never taken part in Buy Nothing Day, or if you’ve taken part in the past but haven’t really committed to doing it again, consider this: 2006 will go down as the year in which mainstream dialogue about global warming finally reached its critical mass. What better way to bring the Year of Global Warming to a close than to point people in the direction of real and effective alternatives to the unbridled consumption that has created this quagmire?

Email us at bnd@adbusters.org as your plans come together. We’ll feature the best and brightest right here as this year’s BND unfolds.

Wealth

2006-11-18T11:21:17+01:00

My heart sank while reading The Independent newspaper yesterday, and i came across an advert for Barclays Bank which read:

"Use and enjoy wealth.

It's being able to tell the world to get lost".

Do something amazing - give blood

2006-11-16T10:56:39+01:00

I hadn't blogged for a day or two, and was wondering what to write about. Then i checked my scar to make sure it was still healing well, and i thought about how lucky i have been with my surgery. When i had my pre op assessment blood was taken for various tests and also to cross match in case i needed a transfusion during the operation. The day i went into hospital more blood was taken (with much difficulty) to varify they had the right blood on standby for me. I was very lucky during the operation and my blood loss was minimal so i never needed that blood. I was very grateful that there was blood for me should i have needed it. Due to the asthma medication I am on i can't donate blood - i really wish i could. If you are a blood donor reading this then a "big thank you" to you. If you're interested in giving blood you can find out where to donate here http://www.blood.co.uk/pages/a1where.html

Pushy Parents

2006-11-09T12:11:28+01:00

I was disgusted to hear a news article on the radio yesterday about a four year old girl who has apparently got depression. I'm sure there are children out there who lived in squalid conditons with their famillies below the poverty line who might suffer depression. This poor child however was depressed as she hadn't got into the school her parents wanted her to go to. The sceptic in me thinks that there is an element of parental projection going on. In my day you went to the school nearest your home. I went to the state infant and junior school and then on to the state comp'. It was in a fairly rough area but i received a good education. I find it sad that childhood is short enough these days without parents pushing to get their child into the "best" school, and push the child to get the "best" scores on their SATS. This isn't to say that you shouldn't encourage a child, just that pushing is often counterproductive.

The news is constantly covering reports of parents upset that they can't get their child into their first choice school. It's a subject i could rant about for hours.

Death Penalty

2006-11-05T13:16:52+01:00

Suddam Hussein has been found guilty of crimes against humanity, and been sentanced to the death penalty. I don't deny he is guilty, but I find this sentence bizzare. Amnesty International have this to say about the death penalty -

"The death penalty is the ultimate cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment.

It violates the right to life.

It is irrevocable and can be inflicted on the innocent. It has never been shown to deter crime more effectively than other punishments."

Is the sentence itself not a crime against humanity?

Trident replacement - debate needed

2006-11-05T13:03:52+01:00

No Trident Replacement

Join the Big Trident Debate

A broad coalition of individuals and organisations has launched a campaign to secure a full public and parliamentary debate on the replacement of Britain's nuclear weapons system. The website www.bigtridentdebate.org.uk contains a statement calling for a full debate which individuals and organisations are encouraged to sign. Join the debate!

A June 2006 ICM poll shows that 81% of the British public believe that a decision on Trident replacement should be made by a vote in Parliament, not by the Prime Minister alone.

CND encourages you to contact Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett, encouraging her to initiate and facilitate the public and parliamentary debate on Trident Replacement.

Please ask your MP to sign EDMs 2702 and 2703, which call for a full debate on the issue of Trident replacement.

A July 2006 ICM poll shows that opposition to Trident Replacement has increased from 54% last autumn to 59%.

The results were based on CND asking an identical question to that asked by Greenpeace last September.

The petition was handed in to 10 Downing Street on 4th August, just before the 61st anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. Over 53,000 signatures were handed in by CND Chair Kate Hudson, Vice-Presidents Bruce Kent, Air-Commodore Alistair Mackie, Canon Paul Oestreicher and Walter Wolfgang and Labour CND Secretary Carol Turner. It was Walter Wolfgang’s first act following his election to the Labour Party National Executive Committee the day before. Click here for pictures.

CND welcomes the vote at the Trades Union Congress conference which strongly opposes a replacement for Trident, Britain’s nuclear weapons system. Click here for CND's press release on this significant achievement for the nuclear disarmament movement.

On 20th July the Leader of the House of Commons Jack Straw announced “we should involve the House fully in a decision as important as the renewal of our nuclear deterrent and in practical terms it is inevitable that there will therefore be a chance for the House to express its view on that important matter in a vote.”

This was following CND’s demands for a deciding vote for MPs and significant support for EDM 1197. CND is now demanding a full consultative Green Paper, followed by a White Paper and then a full debate and vote.

Ask your MP to sign EDM 2575 proposed by Jeremy Corbyn MP

School bans hugging

2006-11-05T11:19:17+01:00

Head warns pupils against hugging

Hugging has got out of hand says the head teacher

A Cornish head teacher has defended his call for pupils not to hug each after an outbreak of potentially "inappropriate" behaviour.

Some parents have accused Mr Kenning of over-reacting after he issued the warning on Callington Community College's website.

"To avoid putting anyone at risk, please avoid hugging," he wrote.

Mr Kenning said on Friday he was concerned that huggers were invading the "personal space" of other pupils.

His message, since removed, read: "Hugging has become very acceptable amongst students.

"This has led to some students believing that it is OK to go up to anyone and hug them, sometimes inappropriately.

"This is very serious, not only for the victim, but also for anyone accused of acting inappropriately. To avoid putting anyone at risk, please avoid hugging."

He told BBC News: "We just said to them please don't do it as often, which they have done.

"They still hug occasionally. We haven't banned hugging and we never will ban hugging.

"It's about respecting people's personal space, that's all."

He added: "It's like saying: 'Don't run down the corridor', which we do in case they fall over or bump into each other."

New lease of life

2006-11-03T17:26:48+01:00

It's now 2 weeks since i had my operation, and i'm continuing to do well. I'm managing (just) to obey they orders of not lifting, carrying, and doing no housework. Ray is comning home from work and making me lovely suppers, and doing dishes and housework. We then tend to collapse on the bed to watch DVDs.

I'm still quite sleepy and having my afternoon naps. Maisy thinks these are a very fine idea, and well done me for finally copying her.

Each morning i set off at 10am for my walk (as prescribed by the physios post-op). I'm now up to 10 minutes which i would never have expected I would be able to do after just 2 weeks. Somedays it involves a walk to the post box, others a trip to the fields across from where we live. The weather has been stunning since Tuesday - lovely winter mornings with sun and frosts. When i worked across town a number of friends nagged me to move nearer to work, but with this beauty on our door step i never could move. The footpath takes you down to a bridge where you can play Pooh Sticks. At the bridge you can carry straight on into Eckington, or go left and walk to Killamarsh and the Rother Valley Country Park.

Those walks will have to wait until i am a bit stronger and have my stamina back, for now i'm content to look at this beauty and reflect on how lucky i am.

In 5 weeks time i see my consultant and i want to hug her for giving me a new lease of life. I was so scared before this surgery, but it hasn't been anywhere near as terrible as i had managed to imagine it would be. The bonuses really have outweighed the negatives.