To the latest blog posts
 

I've had what you might call something of a confirmation today, not in the religious sense you understand that would be a shock, but from an even higher authority - Billy Bragg.

I've been in a voting quandary. My constituency Gravesham in Kent was a Labour marginal in the last election. My inclination this time round is to vote Liberal Democrat. We don't have a Green candidate, my preferred choice, but what if by voting Lib. Dem. I help, in some infinitesimal way, to let a Tory in?  I wouldn't be able to live with myself!  Our Conservative (I shouldn't say Tory should I!) candidate is a man who insists on every possible occasion to being photographed holding his small dog which is wearing a Union Flag coat! I jest not! I would imagine in some countries they'd take against a man who made a coat for his dog out of the national flag - I forgive him that, but I still don't want him as my MP.

I've been mulling this over for sometime, one day I resolve to do one thing, the next day I change. Then this morning I hear Lord Billy (I think we already have a Lord Bragg - don't we), announce to the nation that being a Socialist isn't about who you vote for, it's about voting against the Tories. At that moment it all fell into place, I knew what I had to do. Here are Billy's words from his website on tactical voting in Dorset. (If you live in Dorset sign-up for their voters valentine service.)

BILLY BRAGG CALLS ON LABOUR AND LIB DEM SUPPORTERS TO VOTE TACTICALLY TO ENSURE THE TORIES DO NOT PROSPER - TO VOTE TOGETHER FOR LEFT OF CENTRE GOVERNANCE

At the coming election I will be voting the same way that I always have – against the Tories. Why?

Because they exploit the fears and incite the prejudices of the narrow-minded.

Because they affect to take the moral high ground while dragging the debate down into the sewers.

Because they will reward the powerful while punishing the poor.

Because they follow the agenda set by the Daily Mail.

Because, if Labour lose the election, the Tories will win.

Thanks Billy and lets all keep our fingers crossed - Wildberry.

Don't forget that the 1 July is White Band Day 1, when people all across the world will get together to draw attention to the plight of people living in poverty and to ask world leaders to do more to eradicate poverty.

You can get a white band online from all these organisations:

ActionAid Christian Aid/Traidcraft Concern EveryChild Oxfam Save the Children

War On Want World Vision World Development Movement

If you live in the UK you can join tens of thousands of others in Edinburgh on 2nd July demanding trade justice, debt cancellation, and more and better aid for the world's poorest countries.

This movement is growing everyday, to see the organisations across the world supporting this call, go to the make poverty history site and see how you can be involved. Lets finally get rid of this problem blighting our world.

Have a great weekend - Wildberry.

 

With the General Election only a week away, there is one fundamental issue that seems to have received almost no attention. This is the huge increase in air travel and the effect it is having on the environment. We're all fiddling around arguing about the location of wind turbines and the like, meanwhile we're chucking tons of CO2 in the air every hour from air travel. It is so obvious it's stupid - we cannot continue like this.

Air travel is now the world’s fastest growing source of greenhouse gases. Globally the world’s 16,000 commercial aircraft generate more than 600 million tonnes of carbon dioxide, per year - 600 million tonnes! It is expected the number of people travelling by air will double over the next 15 years.

For more information on this subject see Friends of the Earth, Airport Watch and the Aviation Environment Federation.
 

Another elephant - one that flies!

In the midst of this the Airbus A380 is due to take it's inaugural flight today. This is the world's largest passenger plane. The plane some carriers say they are going to fit out with gyms and Jacuzzis! - Really sensible that!

Trumpet blowing

Please excuse me, it doesn't really become me to blow my own trumpet. But I will very quickly, I had a really nice email from Steve Hounsham - Communications Manager at Transport 2000 saying he'd seen the site, liked it and has included a link from the Transport 2000 website. This is particularly gratifying as Transport 2000 is such a highly respected group and leading the call for sensible, sustainable transport in the UK. Thanks Steve.

Take care - Wildberry.
 

Monday 25 April 2005
Bike Week

The UK's annual festival of cycling 'Bike Week' can sometimes fly under the radar of most of us. Which is a real shame, a lot of good people out there obviously put in a lot of time to organise these events, it's just a shame they don't get a bit more publicity. There are lots of events listed on the website, the majority of the ones I looked at were suitable for all ages.

One event which was first run last year and I understand was a big success is the London BikeFest this year to be held on Sunday 12 June in Trafalgar Square. There aren't a lot of details on the website yet but it's worth checking back and having a look.

National Cycling Strategy

There's a bit of a cycling theme today. I think I knew in the back of my mind we in the UK had a National Cycling Strategy, but my knowledge ended there. Well here it is! I must admit I stumbled across it.

Apparently as they say - 'The National Cycling Strategy (NCS) was launched in July 1996. It aims to establish a culture favourable to the increased use of bicycles for all age groups; to develop sound policies and good practice; and seek out effective and innovative means of fostering accessibility by bike. The delivery of the NCS is overseen by the NCS Board and the Cycling Forum for England (previously the National Cycling Forum).'

This is all very well and there is a shed load of information here, but they really could do with raising their profile a little, or a lot. Most of it is fairly dry and I don't think will appeal to younger cyclists who are more interested in riding bikes than reading about people telling them about cycling policy.

Keep those wheels turning -Wildberry.

The first gig I ever went to with my now wife was to see Kirsty MacColl at the Mean Fiddler in North London. I've just been given, by that same girl, a fantastic present of Kirsty's retrospective boxed set 'From Croydon to Cuba', which I would highly recommend. If you want to know more about Kirsty there is a really good website here.

As you may know Kirsty died in a tragic accident on 18 December 2000, in rather suspicious circumstances. There is a Justice for Kirsty site with all the details about the case and how with a bit of money you can get away with anything - it seems!

I think I'll leave it there today or I may say something I'll regret.

Don't let them get you down - Wildberry.

Channel 4 in the UK are going to be showing Morgan Spurlock's stomach turning Super Size Me on Thursday 27th April. Stomach Turning not only seeing one man consume so much of McDonalds 'food', but also the effect it has on Morgan in such a comparatively sort time. If you still have any doubt, this will confirm what our friends at McLibel have been saying, this food is fat-saturated rubbish.

Speed Cameras

I've just heard the usual discussion about speed cameras on the Jeremy Vine programme on Radio 2. Alistar Darling the Transport Secretary, the Conservative and Lib. Dem. shadows all propagated the same old nonsense about speed cameras.

They are so scared of the public opinion and organisations like the farcical Association of British Drivers that they won't say, what is blindingly obvious to everyone with an ounce of common sense, and I'm going to say this really slowly - IF YOU DON'T SPEED - YOU DON'T GET FINED!.

Now get over it and grow up!

Have a glorious Spring weekend - Wildberry.

Isn't the net amazing, there's me just thinking I've got my transport links down and I know what's going on, then I stumble across the Cycle Campaign Network. Not only have I not heard of them, I've not heard of some of the sites they link to. So wherever you live in the UK there is a campaigning cycling group near you.

I'll get all these groups listed eventually, in the Cycling section, but until then checkout the CCN website, and get on that bike.

Keep those wheels turning - Wildberry.

 

As someone who doesn't believe in God, the events in Rome over the past two weeks have been puzzling but at the same time fascinating. However little the church or the position of Pope means to me personally, there is no doubting that the leader of the Roman Catholic church has enormous influence over hundreds of millions of my fellow human beings. This led me to the strange position of having a real interest in the election of the new Pope and even reading articles in the newspapers on the bookies favourites.

I'm afraid I hadn't really come to a conclusion as to who I would have liked to be elected, I did think a Pope from Latin America or Africa would have brought a new perspective. The only firm conclusion I did draw, as in the recent American election where I wanted 'anyone but Bush', I wanted anyone but Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger! So much for my influence upstairs!

Please don't get me wrong, I'm sure Cardinal Ratzinger has many great qualities, but my foremost concern is he will continue the churches unjustified hard line on contraception. In this single act the Cardinals may have committed an unborn generation of their congregation in Africa & Latin America to a life ravaged by AIDS and an early death - lets hope I'm wrong!

Transport 2000

Transport 2000 are a great organization and they do some fantastic work, but their website, I have to be honest it's not easy is it? Anyway after some years of using it I came a across a link where you can be added to their email list to update you on what's going on and to encourage you to Take Action. To save you the trawl the link is here.

Keep safe - Wildberry

Friday 15 April 2005
Congratulations

I hope you watched the McLibel film on BBC4 last night, it brought home to me what real heroes Helen Steel and David Morris are. Without ordinary people like this standing up against international corporations like McDonalds our liberty to speak out against the wrong in this world would have been eroded sometime ago. Congratulations also to Franny Armstrong, the film-maker, who has updated her original film to include the victory for Helen and David at the European Court, really inspirational film. According to the Spanner Films website McLibel got more viewers than Eastenders last night. Excellent!

Oh, and Happy 50th Birthday McDonalds!

Air Travel - what do you think?

The EU has produced a survey requesting resident’s views on air travel, its effects on the environment and how we can change things for the better. It's not often we get to influence EU policy so don't let this opportunity pass by. The closing date for the survey is 6 May, if you’re interested the link is here.

The results are due to be published in July 2005.

Have a great weekend - Wildberry.

The Green Party in the UK yesterday launched their manifesto online (BBC report), you can download as a pdf file from the Green Party website. Far from being a single issue party, they have credible policies on the economy, health and education, crime and justice. If you live in one of the over two hundred constituencies where the Green Party are fielding a candidate then please have a look at the manifesto and think about voting Green.

A list of the constituencies and candidates is here.
 

McLibel on the BBC

Just as a reminder the latest version of Franny Armstrong's film about the McLibel trial is shown on BBC4 tomorrow Thursday (not today as advertised) at 9.00pm.

Someone at the BBC has a sense of humour, what a great way to celebrate McDonalds 50th birthday in two days time!


If you're interested in some other very powerful documentaries by Franny Armstrong, have a look at the Spanner Films website. The McSpotlight website is here.

Have a great evening - Wildberry.

Thanks to Brompton Bicycle Ltd for the photo.
 

There is very little in life more exciting than the purchase of a new bike. The great thing about buying a new bike is, OK they're not cheap, but for a reasonable amount of money, say £500 you can get a really good quality bike. I have to admit I do already have a bike, a Specialized Rockhopper, which for those of you not in the know is a mountain bike, but to be honest I don't ride it on a mountain very often - at all actually.

But that's the old bike, the new bike is a Brompton L6, 'what on of those folding bikes that makes you look like the clown Charlie Cairoli?', yes that's that one. I haven't ridden it much yet,  accept a couple of times around the car park near the shop. So fingers crossed, I'll let you know how I get on. If I look anything as cool as Ismail, above, I'll be very happy. It's great to find a product that is generally considered to be the best in its class, but also designed and manufactured in the UK.

Keep safe - Wildberry
 

Last night on TV in the UK the 'Make Poverty History' campaign broadcast a very powerful ad reminding us, that in the developing world one child dies in extreme poverty every three seconds. To see the ad go to the Make Poverty History website.

Make Poverty History are keen to get as many people as possible to a rally in Edinburgh during the G8 summit on the 1st July. If you can make it, there are organised trips from all over the UK, then again go to the website for further details and I'll see you there.
 

Happy Birthday McDonalds!

I've talked about the McLibel trial before and the documentary film made by Franny Armstrong, well this film is going to be shown on BBC4 on Wednesday 13 April at 9pm. No irony here but 13 April is two days before McDonalds 50th Birthday - what a great treat for them! If you want more info about the film, or other powerful documentaries go to Spanner Films website.


Summer's on it's way - have a great weekend - Wildberry