Why I am going to Thatcher’s funeral. And why you should too.
Thatcher Thatcher Thatcher Thatcher Thatcher Thatcher Thatcher Thatcher Thatcher Thatcher Thatcher She’s dead, you know? With the passing of a political monolith is born a very modern PR battle. And it is one Thatcher’s advocates, acolytes, admirers, political dependents and press pushers are winning. Let’s get my position out of the way first. Thatcher did … Read more
A royally dangerous obsession
I haven’t had the time, nor do I have the inclination, to do any in-depth research on ‘the royal pregnancy’. As a result, this may be misinformed, or not comprehensive in analysis. But it is exactly my instinctive sentiment towards this issue that prevents that being a realistic possibility. I simply refuse to spend much … Read more
We need to talk about Sandy
This afternoon I had my own battle with the elements. Although it was a comic, not tragic, affair, my personal travails nevertheless bear relation to Sandy – the vicious ‘superstorm’ that has recently assaulted north eastern US normality. I had cycled about six miles from central Bristol out to Keynsham, a suburb on the road … Read more
Lessons from Maude
I cycled to work in Bristol yesterday past a petrol station webbed in red and white tape, dry as a mormon wedding. There is something pretty dystopic about empty petrol stations, like abandoned factories or early summer mornings when no-one’s about. So pivotal are functioning petrol stations in maintaining the mundanity of the everyday environment … Read more
A4e – Action 4 Emma?
“A4e is a social purpose company with one sole aim. To improve people’s lives around the world. We do this by helping them to find work, skills, direction – or whatever it is they need.” This is how A4e (Action 4 employment) – the company that recently finds itself central to a rapidly escalating scandal … Read more
Money Outgrown Pt.2
In part one of this blog post I looked at Tim Jackson’s book Prosperity Without Growth. I argued that, while highly illuminating and refreshing in exploring the incompatibility of relentless economic growth and non-negotiable ecological limits placed on our activity, it fails to provide two things. First, a substantial account of what, in real economic and social terms, prosperity without … Read more
Money Outgrown Pt.1
This is a blog post about something I understood little about until recently, and about which I still have an enormous amount to learn. This, however, I take to be a more advantageous starting point than that which you might call ‘expert’, given the willful ignorance of ecological limits to economic growth still so often … Read more
If I Must
I haven’t blogged for a while. There’s a reason for that – I’ve been busy working in a Students’ Union at a time of year that gives little respite. This is only one reason though. The other is a lack of inspiration. This blog isn’t about much apart from that – but maybe you’ll recognise … Read more
Squatting Must Not Be ConDemned
This government is currently attempting to criminalise squatting. The move is horrifying for two reasons. First, because of the devastating effects it will have on an increasing number of people who cannot afford to put a roof over their heads. Second, because it displays, at best, total disconnect between Whitehall and the streets, while at … Read more
Solar Panels: Feed-in Inequality?
A few weeks ago I met a friend, Daniel Quiggin, at the Bristol Harbour Festival who was running a DIY solar panels workshop. Mentioning that my parents had recently installed solar panels on the family home in London, I sparked a long discussion about the economics of solar panels, the conclusions of which shocked me … Read more
