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Only yesterday morning we woke to the news that Sadam Hussein had been executed for crimes against humanity. The execution took place in a Baghdad suburb in the early hours of 30 December. Let me make clear I am in no way a defender of Sadam, he was overdue in being brought to justice for his terrible crimes. It's the nature of that 'justice' and our reaction to it I find offensive. As soon as I heard that this sorry act had been videoed I knew that somehow that film would end-up on the web. This morning only 24 hours later we woke to the news that the tape was on the web, even quicker than I imagined.

According to the BBC the execution took place at a compound known as 'Camp Justice'. The events were witnessed by 'a small group of Iraqis, including a representative of the Iraqi prime minister and a Sunni Muslim cleric'. The 'official' video, edited to end before the actual hanging, was released by the Americans to show that the execution had taken place. Apparently the pirate video was taken, supposedly by one of the invited group without the authorities knowledge, on a mobile phone. This video is now all over the internet.

The UK newspapers have seen it appropriate to show photographs of Sadam's last minutes, the Independent on Sunday (which I decided not to show here) have gone so far as to show a picture of Sadam's dead body.

As someone who is against the death penalty under any circumstances maybe I'm more sensitive about this than most, but I find this sort of coverage completely unacceptable. If you compare the front pages of the UK papers above, and I can assure you they all have a similar picture, to the front pages of those from Australia, the USA and France we shouldn't feel proud of our newspapers coverage of these events.

Whatever the events that have lead to Sadam being committed to death it feels wrong that we gloat over that death in this way.

I truly hope this isn't a taste of the year to come - Wildberry

Wildberry's is two years old today, before you say it I know there are too many candles, but I do my best! I'm not under any delusions that this particularly significant but it does provide me with a moment for reflection.

For me the thing that has changed more than any other over the last two years is the nature of the discussion around climate change. Two years ago although it was talked about climate change was principally a subject for specialist journals with only limited coverage in the popular press and on main news broadcasts. Now hardly a week goes by without a report on how global warming is changing lives somewhere in the world. Certainly in the UK, the BBC and serious newspapers run regular features on the way the world around us is changing.

It seems to me the problem now is the disconnect between the acceptance that the climate is changing and the fact that it is the result of our actions. Most people if questioned in the street would accept climate change is important and something needs to be done. But if you asked them who should do that something they'd probably list the Government (well they're not wrong there), big business (right again), they might say the Americans (the less said the better), they might even mention the Chinese, but what they probably won't say is themselves and that is the root of the problem.

We all think it's someone else's fault, but what most people don't realize is the buck stops with us, you and me, the proverbial man on the Clapham omnibus. I hate this phrase but we are all 'Citizens of the Earth', this little blob of blue wonder floating in a huge ocean of nothingness. It's down to each of us to do our bit and for god sake stop saying 'I'll do it if they do it', because by the time that happens it'll be too late! We all need to take a good look at ourselves our actions and to face up to our responsibilities, until we do nothing's going to change, except the climate!

Have a great Christmas - Wildberry

In the UK Channel 4 television has opened it's nominations for it's political awards 2006. They're asking viewers to nominate and then vote for the 'Most Inspiring Political Figure' of 2006. All the details are on the Channel 4 website here. Remember it doesn't have to be a politician, last years winner was Jamie Oliver.

My nomination will be for Shami Chakrabarti the Director of Liberty (the National Council for Civil Liberties). In a time where civil liberties have increasingly been under threat, with issues from ID cards and the right to public protest to the wearing of the veil. Shami Chakrabarti has an unfailing ability to cut straight to the heart of the problem, summarise intelligently and offer a common sense solution that so often seems to elude our elected politicians. Wikipedia listing

Keep safe out there - Wildberry

Photo courtesy Justice for Kirsty

It is six years today since the tragic death of Kirsty MacColl whilst she was on holiday with her family in Mexico. Kirsty was killed by a power boat whilst scuba diving with her sons in a restricted diving area off Cozumel, Mexico.

The excerpt for the Justice for Kirsty website explains the circumstances.

The powerboat (belonging to a the chairman of a large Mexican company) had apparently been travelling too fast in a National Park which bans such boats. An inexperienced boathand (Cen Yam) was charged with causing her death and found guilty of negligent homicide (subject to confirmation by a judge), which carries a sentence of up to seven years.

The owner, Guillermo González Nova, and his family were on board, and claimed it was the boathand, Cen Yam, at the controls, and that they were outside the restricted area travelling at no more than one knot. Witnesses said the boat was moving at high speed inside the National Park, its bow riding clear of the water. Kirsty would have died instantly. Jamie was struck on the head and side, without suffering serious injury.

The boathand's job was to carry out maintenance - he did not have a licence for such a powerful boat, and had never taken its helm before. Though he claimed to have taken a seaman's course he was unable to answer basic questions. The boat owner did not have the right powerboat licence either.

Port authority investigators found the dive boat had been flying a flag, but it did not conform to international regulations. It should also have had another crew member on board, and should have put out a marker buoy. However the ruling was that the powerboat had been in the prohibited area, the pilot had been negligent and violated navigation laws and the owner should not have let him take the controls.

Jean believes the person who carries the greatest culpability is the owner, who was not charged. She also questions who was actually at the helm, and plans to visit Cozumel soon to investigate further.


The Justice for Kirsty website is asking readers to write to the Mexican President Felipe Calderon requesting that those responsible for Kirsty's death be prosecuted. You can find all the details here. Please join me in trying to see the end of this long running injustice.

Go on make a difference - Wildberry

If you live in the UK you may be familiar with Newsnight reporter Justin Rowlatt's attempt to live an ethical life for a year. As their Ethical Man he (and his family) have had their car taken away, been banned from flying and had their lives subject to an ethical audit.

In the new year Justin will attempt to go vegan until the end of his year as ethical man in March. Justin has asked reader's of his blog to send in vegan recipes for him to try and the response has been amazing. I'm vegetarian not vegan but I'll certainly be trying some of these.

For uninspired vegan's out there have a look at the always varied Vegan Lunch Box, which seems to have turned into a book since I was there last. I am the only one to think that's a bit of a shame? and who's going to be making little Shmoo's lunch box every day if his Mum's off signing books. It's a worrying trend.

Have a great weekend - Wildberry

I don't know about you but the closer it gets to Christmas the more difficult I find it to stay focused on the job in hand. It's not that I celebrate Christmas more than most, I don't, I think it's just the combination of a few days off from work and that it's dark outside for most of the day - It's like primeval hibernation is overcoming me.

As I'm supposed to be working, I'm sitting in front of a computer permanently connected to the wonders of the world wide web. The temptation is too great and my fingers start to wander.

I've come across Best Foot Forward they describe themselves thus 'Founded in 1997 by Nicky Chambers and Craig Simmons, Best Foot Forward Limited (BFF) design and develop tools to measure and communicate environmental impact and sustainability using methodologies such as resource flow and ecological footprint analysis.' Now to cut that down they do fancy analysis of your life, your company, your town or whatever you want, to determine it's environmental footprint (amongst other things).

Now obviously this is all very labour intensive and therefore expensive for an individual. They do however do an natty little rough calculator to your footprint from completing a few drop down menus here. Just the sort of thing to do while you're supposed to be working - which of course I certainly wouldn't!

This is mine, you might have to click on it to make it a bit easier to read.

The long and the short of it is, to sustain my - what I think is generally a comparatively low energy life style - would take the resources of two earths (or 7.4 tonnes of CO2) if everybody lived in the same way as me. Quite frightening isn't it! But if I flew abroad on holiday, used my car a bit more and didn't buy our electricity from a renewable supplier that would equal 3.8 earths (or 14 tonnes of CO2)! Which does show that all our small decisions do make a difference.

Oh look it's time to go home! - Wildberry

Picture courtesy DHD Multimedia Gallery

The Stop Stansted Expansion Campaign had good and bad news in short succession this week.

The good news Uttlesford District Council turned down BAA's planning application to increase passenger numbers to 35m a year. That doesn't sound too many if you say it quickly, but just think thirty-five million people (35,000,000) the majority travelling to the airport by car, many business people in individual cars. That's a lot of people and a lot of cars. The council in a far sighted decision said that the economic benefits of the airport expansion did not outweigh the negative impacts the expansion would have on noise levels, air quality, road and rail networks and local quality of life.

The bad news, almost immediately BAA the owners of the airport said they would appeal the decision. The Stop Stansted Expansion campaign have been fighting the expansion for many years, what an indictment it is of our greedy 21st century society that no one even expected that BAA will do the decent thing and listen to the democratic decision of the local District Council and abandon these expansion plans. Too much to ask.

Please support the Stop Stansted Expansion campaign in any way you can. UK residents can sign an online petition to the Prime Minister here, I urge you to do so.

There are a number of local groups campaigning to stop airport expansions (see below) all loosely represented by AirportWatch and their Rethink! campaign.

Picture courtesy HACAN Clear Skies

HACAN Clear Skies (Heathrow airport)
Gatwick Area Conservation Campaign
Luton and District Association for the Control of Airport Noise
Stop Luton Airport Plan
Birmingham Airport Anti-Noise Group
Stop Bristol Airport Expansion Coalition
DEMAND East Midlands Airport is Now Designated
Wolverhampton Airport Action Group 
ACE - Airport Concern Exeter
Lydd Airport Action Group 
 

Let's make a difference - Wildberry

 

Following my posting about Powabykes back on the 23 November  Helen Plummer from Powabyke got in touch to give me a bit more information. I had been wondering where the bikes were made, she said that the bikes (or should that be 'bykes') are designed and specified in the UK. The majority of the bike is manufactured in Taiwan, with the motors made in China (apparently the Chinese make the best magnets on Earth) and the batteries come from Japan. All the parts are then shipped to the UK for a assembly.

My interest was the ability that electrically assisted bikes give to help less able riders enjoy the pleasures if cycling or even give them mobility that they wouldn't otherwise have. Helen confirmed 'our range does help people with various challenges get back into cycling.  The peddle assist enables people to have as much or little assistance as they need, where as the tryke also enables people with balance problems to cycle as well.'

Keep pedalling - Wildberry

 

I don't think many environmentalists expected the UK Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown's last pre-Budget report to tackle all the problems of climate change highlighted by the recent Sterne report, but I think most would have expected more than this. BBC Report.

Friends of the Earth economics advisor Dave Timms said the environmental campaign group was 'disappointed' that the government had failed to show it was serious about 'moving to a low-carbon economy'.

The Chancellor raised the air passenger duty on most flights £5 to £10, that's hardly going to discourage those heading off for a weekend shopping in New York. Air passenger duty should have been raised to at least £25, this would have made a significant psychological difference to the cost of a budget airline fare.

Mr Brown also announced an inflation rise in fuel duty from midnight yesterday. The rise will come to 1.25 pence a litre, again not enough to discourage most drivers. It's time that fuel duty was linked to inflation.

The main proposal that did catch my eye was the pledge to make all new homes 'carbon neutral' in ten years. By this I assume he means new homes will have much higher levels of insulation than are currently required and that they will be fitted with micro-power systems such as solar power and possibly CHP. The problem here is that many new homes now don't have the levels of insulation currently required. Some builders, aware that the councils don't have the necessary staff to police them, take the opportunity to save some money by reducing the amount of insulation fitted.

If the Chancellor does make a commitment to carbon neutral homes, which would be more than welcome, we will need to invest in building inspectors to ensure it's policed.

All-in-all Gordon it's a poor effort - please try harder - Wildberry