Happy Haloween

Tonight is Halloween, and by complete coincidence it's also the night that I'll be camping alone here in Knoydart. The plan is to walk to the eastern edge of Loch Hourn - the aptly nicknamed Loch of Hell - and find somewhere suitable to camp once I get there. Let's just hope it's nice and quiet and that I don't hear too many strange noises in the dark...!

Learning to love the bomb

Today marks a slightly odd anniversary, and also prompts an interesting pub quiz-style question; what was the name of the largest bomb ever detonated?

Those tempted to say either Little Boy or Fat Man - the name of the nuclear bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki respectively at the close of World War II would be wrong, although these (thankfully) continue be the only time such weapons have been used in warfare. Other test detonations have also outstripped the power of these early atomic weapons.

The title instead goes to the Tsar Bomba, which was dropped by the Soviet Union over the uninhabited Arctic Novaya Zemlya archipelago on 30th October 1961.With a blast yield of 50 megatons it created a zone of total destruction of over 20 miles - enough to obliterate almost any city on Earth. The potential lethality of such a weapon runs into millions.

It's scary to think that so much of human endeavour has been dedicated towards the destruction of fellow members of the same species. The fact that so many can be killed at the whim of our leaders is a chilling reminder that scientific advancement has not always been for the good of us all.

Climbing a Corbett

Earlier today I climbed my first Scottish mountain. The idea had been to tackle one of Knoydart's three Munros - mountains over 3,000 feet - but the poor weather meant that any such ascent could be particularly difficult. So we decided instead to head for the unpronounceable Sgurr a Choire-bheithe, which at 913 meters above sea level is only one meter shy of Munro status. Instead it is classed as a mere Corbett.

And the views from the top were stunning, even through the clouds; to the north we could see over Barrisdale and Loch Hourn whilst around us the Rough Bounds of Knoydart revealed itself in all its rocky glory. It was a fantastic - not to mention tiring - experience and one that I would love to repeat on other Scottish mountains in the near future. I'd definitely recommend it to anyone.

On the up in Doune

Today I've spent my first day in Knoydart, and what a placeit is; soaring peeks, stunning lochs, wild glens and a refreshing lack of roads and people. So far we've tramped over some of the more gentle hills around Sandaig, getting to grips with map-and-compass navigation and other skills vital in safely exploring this corner of the Scottish Highlands.

We're also having a very gentle introduction to this wilderness, for tonight we stay in Doune, right on Knoydart's western tip. This small collection of privately run chalets - accessible only by boat - offers some fine views over to Skye and the Small Isles, and although only a few miles from the relatively cosmopolitan centre that is Mallaig the forty minute voyage across the entrance of Loch Nevis really does feel like it's taking you into another world. Even today, when the seas were as choppy as they come, the journey really feels like a special one.

I'm also quite aware that staying in a place like Doune would normally be well beyond my budget, so before we've even got into Knoydart proper this trip is already proving to be a fantastic experience. But those of you worried that this 'Wilderness Experience Tour' is a complete misnomer needn't fret; tomorrow and for the next three nights after that we sleep in the wild with only the canvas of our tents to seperate us from the cold Highland air...

Knoydart bound

Blogging will be extremely light over the forthcoming couple of weeks; I'm off to Knoydart in the Scottish Highlands as part of the Gore-Tex Experience Tour. The two weeks since I was selected for the expedition have raced by and it's incredibly exciting to know that I'll be trekking in - and developing a greater understanding of - one of the UK's last true wilderness areas.

I'm also going to take some time after the Tour ends to explore part of the Inner Hebrides, in particular Skye and one or more of the Small Isles. I've always wanted to travel to this undoubtedly beautiful corner of Britain and thanks to Cameron McNeish, Richard Else and the good people at Gore-Tex I'll now be able to. Expect lots of photographs and lengthy eulogies when I return...

Burma's new flag

The maternal branch of my family tree is in large part of Anglo-Burmese origin; my great-grandmother - who died last year - was the last native speaker of Burmese in the family and her movements during the second world war explains why my grandmother and so many of her siblings were born either there or in India. It's always amused me that under international rules I'd be eligible to represent Burma in sport; that the country isn't a member of the International Rugby Board is to my everlasting disappointment.

As a result I like to keep an eye on Burmese affairs, although with its current military junta holding absolute power for the past two decades and the continued imprisonment of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi it can make for depressing reading. Even 2007's Saffron Revolution seems to have little effect in introducing democracy into the country.

The junta also has a history of making strange decisions, often influenced by state astrologers. The most famous example in recent years took place when the capital was moved from Yangon - formerly Rangoon - to Naypyidaw in 2005.

Now Burma - officially the Union of Myanmar - has adopted a new flag. At first glance it might be mistaken for that of an African nation, using as it does the green, gold and red colours of the Pan-African movement; even the central star is reminiscent of the flags of countries such as Ghana and Ethiopia. But those interested in history will quickly notice that the junta's choice of flag is closely modelled on that of the Japanese-controlled State of Burma that existed for the final two years of World War II. What makes the choice even stranger is that the previous flag of blue and red was based on that of the Burmese resistance during that conflict.

In less than two weeks a national election will be held which the regime has called a major step in the transition to democracy. It seems naive, however, to believe that the military in Burma will ever choose to relinquish power of its own free will. The change in flag is just another way for the junta to remind everyone who is really in control.

Clegg: Tuition fees will be capped

Nick Clegg has stated that universities in England will not be allowed to set unlimited tuition fees. The news comes in the aftermath of the Browne report - which suggested that a cap on fees as is currently the case was undesirable - and contradicts Business Secretary Vince Cable's recent announcement that the proposals were "fair and progressive". Cable has since fallen into line, declaring that the prospect of unlimited fees "simply isn't going to rise"; naturally leading universities have already expressed their disappointment.

It'll still make difficult reading for many of the Liberal Democrat supporters who have long been opposed to the principle of tuition fees, and the fact that Clegg and Cable refuse to reject Browne in its entirety still suggests that they have compromised the core beliefs that they were so keen to reiterate before the election. But the fact that they are even entertaining the notion of a cap affords some small comfort that the Lib Dem brake has some life in it yet.

The Orwell Prize

The 2011 Orwell Prize for political writing is now open for entries and as in previous years there are three categories for the best book, piece of journalism and online blog. The prize describes itself as "Britain’s most prestigious prize for political writing" and was established back in 1994 with the aim of emulating Orwell's predilection for good clear political writing. Previous winners of the blog award include Nightjack and Winston Smith and the award's political neutrality is perhaps best illustrated by the fact that the likes of Polly Toynbee and Peter Hitchens have both been recipients of the journalism prize. It's also interesting to note that the two blog award winners both offer insights into aspects of the public sector from what is an inside source.

The award is self-nominating and I'll probably enter in the next few days, although I'll be up against stiff competition even to make the longlists. But it also offers the opportunity to think about what makes for good political writing and see some of the best that the web has to offer. And that's reason enough to give it a go, even if Andrew Marr thinks we're all "inadequate, pimpled and single"...

A trip to Selby Abbey

Despite not being a religious person I have always been fascinated by religion and religious architecture. To that end I've spent part of the day visiting Selby Abbey, one of the few medieval abbey churches still standing to have survived the reformation period . It's a large building, almost like a small cathedral, and parts of it date back to the period immediately following the Norman conquest. It's also modeled on the cathedral at Durham, which goes some way to explain its importance to the student of ecclesiastical architecture. It's a surprisingly atmospheric and engaging place for such a small town.

It also contains a wealth of historical treasures, including a fine stained glass Tree of Jesse and a hole through the walls whereby those cursed with leprosy could gaze on the altar from the outside but still be kept at arms' length.

Perhaps its most interesting feature for the historical geographer, however, is a small heraldic coat of arms depicted in a 14th century stained glass window. This is the 'Washington Window', and its three red stars and two red stripes are the heraldic arms of the ancestors of George Washington. It's thought to have been the inspiration for the current flag of the District of Columbia in the United States; the two certainly share a striking resemblance.

The Abbey is currently undergoing a multi-million pound restoration and yet unlike its larger cathedral cousins does not charge an entrance fee. It's a fascinating place to visit if you happen to be in the area and well-deserving of continued patronage by the historically- and spiritually-inclined alike.

Are footballers paid too much?

The news that Wayne Rooney may quit Manchester United has provoked a surprising amount of debate in the footballing world. Many have expressed their surprise that the striker wants to leave the club he has called home since 2004, not least of all the legions of die-hard fans who have decided to make their feelings known by congregating outside his rather swanky Cheshire mansion.

For his part Rooney has said that he wants to leave Old Trafford because the club cannot match his ambitions, a curious accusation against a side that has won the Premiership five times in the last decade and is the most recent English club to have triumphed in the Europe-wide Champions League. Those with longer memories may recall that the England stalwart has form in this department when he ditched his life-long allegiance to Everton in order to play for Alex Ferguson's team, suggesting that it may be something else that commands his loyalty. The more cynically-minded supporter might even suggest that it is money rather than titles that is the most influential factor at stake here.

The whole affair mirrors a recent debate I had with an old acquaintance on the bastion of free debate that is Facebook. It was his firm opinion that people should not resent the often large amounts paid to football professionals because their wages are the direct result of the good old free market forces of supply and demand. It was exactly the sort of Friedmanesque laissez-faire economics which I've come across before; a position that eschews any ethical considerations in a system which considers those who kick a ball into a net to have a greater worth than doctors, teachers and others whose work contains a perceivable wider social benefit. That so many top footballers are paid more in a week than most people - including, among others, the Prime Minister - earn in a year is, in this view, essentially irrelevant.

Needless to say it's a position that I find abhorrent and many people - myself included - consider it a damning indictment of the capitalist system. Proposals to introduce a salary cap in the Premiership and elsewhere once found an active audience but has since been quietly abandoned over fears that the 'talent' will simply go elsewhere. A little bit like Wayne Rooney is now suggesting he might do.

And so back to the latest saga to grip the footballing world. Rooney is threatening to ditch the Red Devils and given his abilities on the pitch several clubs have already expressed their interest in availing themselves of his services. And yet it still stretches the imagination beyond breaking point to suggest that he'll do so for anything less than his current salary at United. Even speaking as a non-fan it seems obvious that Rooney's 'ambitions' are not for medals or glory but for an ever-expanding pay packet.

Update 23/10/2010
Lo and behold, Rooney has signed a new five-year deal with, er, Manchester United. On a rumoured £200,000 a week. It seems those ambitions have been finally met...

Nick Robinson: prize blogger and scourge of the protester

The BBC's Political Editor Nick Robinson has been named "Blogger of the Year" at the annual Editorial Intelligence Comment Awards, beating fellow nominees Paul Waugh of the Evening Standard and Coffee House’s Melanie Phillips. It's a prestigious accolade for the former President of the Oxford University Conservative Association.

Audible snorts of derision are already making themselves felt around the blogosphere, with Robinson's low post rate and general lack of hyperlinking - the virtual equivalent of source referencing - making for what some suggest is an inferior product compared to some of his more prolific peers. In his defence Robinson's blog certainly comes across as something of an afterthought when compared to his broadcast work and this may be a fair reflection of his workload, but that still doesn't explain this latest gong. It's even been suggested that the whole event is a PR exercise and that for the sponsors a high-profile recipient is preferable to an obscure one.

So it might cheer many of those resentful of Robinson's success to see the Blogger of the Year dealing with a pesky war protester who dared crash one of his outside broadcasts. Let's just say that on this occasion his liberal tendencies make a particularly good job of staying hidden...

The Spending Review: cuts, cuts and more cuts

The Chancellor has unveiled the biggest cuts in UK expenditure for decades. The results of George "benefits are a lifestyle choice" Osborne's Spending Review make for grim reading, in particular the £81 billion to be cut from public spending over the next four years including £7 billion from extra welfare cuts. This will involve changes to incapacity, housing benefit and tax credits. There will also be a 19% average cut in government department budgets, an increase in the retirement age sooner than originally forecast (but still some way off), and an above-inflation rise in rail fares.

Already there are fears that much of the openly-regressive policies are ideological in nature, a view perhaps bolstered by the open glee with which many Tory backbenchers greeted the deepest cuts in living memory. And Osborne's claim that "it will always pay to work" will ring hollow for the estimated 500,000 people who will lose their jobs in the public sector as a direct result of this swingeing programme. Expect analysis on both sides of the political divide far more detailed then I could ever hope to provide to be particularly belligerent.

What is perhaps most telling about the Coalition cuts programme is that much of it is based on their pinning the blame of the world's greatest recession since the Wall Street Crash solely on the shoulders of the previous government. No one doubts that cuts in public expenditure need to be made, but it is the fact that they will hit the poorest hardest that leaves a nasty taste in the mouth. "All in this together" never sounded more hollow.

Leeds cutswatch

Tomorrow is for many people 'D-Day', or at least the budgetary equivalent of it; Chancellor George Osborne is to reveal his Spending Review and it's likely to contain recommendations for some of the harshest cuts in budget expenditure in decades.

Here in Leeds the sombre mood is no different, and the good folk at the Guardian have set up a project to record exactly when and where the scale of the cuts will be felt the most. Already the list is well into double figures and no doubt this will increase as government announcements follow. It might well provide a valuable record of what effects the coalition's programme of public spending curtailment will have at the local and hyperlocal level.

Tax avoidance and the government

The Conservatives and Liberal Democrats had once claimed that tax avoidance by corporations and the super rich was going to be one of their primary targets during their tenure in government. Only last month Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander reiterated this stance:

"We will be ruthless with those often wealthy people and businesses who think they can treat paying tax as an optional extra. This will mean: A crackdown on those hiding money offshore. And that includes not only those who illegally evade tax but those who use entirely legal means to avoid paying their fair share to the taxman."

Ditto Deputy PM Nick Clegg:

"We will crack down on the super rich who hide money overseas."

In this era of impending cuts and the war on 'benefit cheats' the government's ambitions to close the legal loopholes which allow billions of pounds worth of tax to be avoided are laudable, even if its credentials have suffered somewhat in the wake of Topshop owner Sir Philip Green's appointment as a government adviser. Green famously avoided paying £285 million in corporation tax in a single year after paying his profit as a dividend to his Monaco-based wife.

I mention this now because I've just finished watching Dispatches on Channel 4, which has examined tax avoidance in the Cabinet. These include International Development Secretary Andrew Mitchell, Transport Secretary Philip Hammond and Chancellor George Osborne, the latter of whom will soon be announcing in his Spending Review on Wednesday what many fear will be the most extreme series of cuts in public expenditure in living memory. All of them appear to take advantage of the very tax avoidance schemes that the coalition has pledged to fight.

All this comes at a rather embarrassing time; David Cameron, after all, has declared on several occasions that "We're all in this together" and it's since become something of a Tory rallying cry. When senior members of his team - including a Chancellor in charge of wielding the public sector funding axe - subsequently refuse to practice what they preach it starts to smack of blatant hypocrisy. And it gets even worse; Cameron has founded a 'Business Council' and stocked it with advisers guilty of the self-same tax avoidance.

Many people who favour such practices like to point out that avoiding tax on income by employing such ruses employed by Green et al - which are only ever available to the very, very wealthy - are completely legal, and in that sense they are correct. But these practices are at best morally questionable and divert billions of pounds away from the British treasury. It's money that in many cases would more than cover the savings that Osborne's soon-to-be-announced cuts are supposed to generate, with the most vulnerable in society essentially paying for billionaires to save a few quid.

Update 19/10/2010
This is an interesting examination of the difference in government rhetoric employed against 'benefits scroungers' and those who are able to avoid tax.

The Journey of a Lifetime... again

Every year for the last five years I've applied for one of the Royal Geographical Society's bursaries for independent travel. There are three up for grabs; the Neville Shulman Award, with the aim of stimulating physical and intellectual challenges; the Land Rover Go Beyond Award, which entails exploration of a geographical environment in one of the eponymous vehicles; and the Journey of a Lifetime award, in which the recipient will record an inspiring journey for a Radio 4 documentary. Competition for all three is intensely fierce and aside from a single solitary longlisting I've never come close to being successful.

This year, of course, things might be different. I've applied for the Journey of a Lifetime - RGS rules stipulate that only one application can be made per year across the awards - and this time my proposal is an exploration of Central Asia's Jewish heritage, a once thriving but fast disappearing aspect of this region's distinct culture. Today there are only a handful of Jews remaining in the former Soviet Republics of Uzbekistan, Kyrgystan and Tajikistan and even fewer working synagogues; wholesale emigration to Israel after the fall of communism has left an ageing population that may soon disappear forever. Documenting this heritage before it disappears completely would truly be a Journey of a Lifetime and I honestly think that it would make for a fascinating piece of radio.

The deadline for submissions was at the end of last month so now all that matters is to wait and see. Recent success in the Gore-Tex Experience Tour might just be an omen of things to come...

Update 17/10/2010
The above image of Jewish children with their teacher in Samarkand was taken in 1910. It forms part of photographer Prokudin-Gorsky's pioneering work to document the Russian Empire on the eve of the First World War using an early form of colour; more of his images can be seen here.

Update 18/10/2010
Sadly I've just heard that I've failed in my bid to be shortlisted for this year's award. At least there's plenty of time to decide on what next year's proposal should be...

Robinson backs integrated education

When I was completing my geography MSc back in 2006 my thesis took me to Northern Ireland. It was fairly academic sounding stuff - I was examining ethnic minority identity within a presumed cultural dichotomy - and one of the sectors which I looked at closely was education. Schools in Ulster tend to be segregated by religion; Protestant and Catholic children attend separate institutions and - bar from a few so-called 'integrated schools' - this division is absolute. My interest at the time was how national and religious identities that differed from these managed to integrate themselves within society, but it was still interesting to witness this institutionalised religious divide first-hand.

Northern Ireland First Minister Peter Robinson has denounced the system as a "a benign form of apartheid", and as an outsider it's hard not to agree with his conclusions. He also declared that the current segregated system must change, suggesting that "future generations will not thank us if we fail to address this issue." He also stated that whilst not objecting to faith-based schools in principle he did oppose their funding by the state, an apparent reference to Catholic schools which have long benefited from taxpayer-funded status.

It's a thorny issue, and already angry accusations of an attack on Catholic education have been thrown by Sinn Féin and the church itself. Both have suggested that Robinson's views are based more on opposition to Catholic influence in Northern Ireland's schools than by any real support for integrated education.

On a personal level I've always been a little distrustful of faith schools and state funding for them. I went to a nominally Anglican school myself but it was never overt nor did it influence the education I received; there was no substitution of evolution with creationism here.

But in Northern Ireland things are different. In a place where much of society still divides itself along cultural and religious lines preventing children from mixing with and learning from their peers across the divide can only serve to prolong those mutual suspicions. Robinson's statements are about inclusion and not division; other politicians should sit up and take note.

An end to rinderpest

Back in 1979 the World Health Organisation announced the eradication of smallpox, a deadly virus which had been responsible for millions of deaths throughout recorded history. It was an unqualified success, the result of a global vaccination campaign conducted over the previous twenty years. The smallpox virus now only exists in two laboratories, one in Russia and one in the United States.

Now the United Nations has announced that another virus has been consigned to the history books. Rinderpest - from the German for "cattle-plague" - was deadly to cows and was prevalent in Africa, Asia and the Middle East. Before a vaccine was first produced in the 1960s it had a mortality rate of around 70%. Now that it has been stamped out not only will cattle welfare be improved but also the conditions of the people that depend upon them.

When smallpox was first eradicated debate raged over whether it was logical or ethical to destroy it completely; the WHO itself defaulted twice over promises to destroy all laboratory stocks before deciding that it was in the best interests of humanity that a few samples were retained for research purposes. The deliberate destruction of a biological entity - however small - was another divisive issue.

In the case of smallpox and now with rinderpest both arguments for retention still stand. It's possible that the continued study of these viruses may result in new methods to combat others that continue to cause so much damage. In a world where the nature of viruses is ever-changing and their resistance to drugs ever-evolving it's vital that avenues of research are not shut off unnecessarily.

Quangos face the axe

The government has announced that it will abolish a huge number of quangos - quasi-autonomous non-governmental organisations - in a move that it claims will cut costs and increase accountability. 192 bodies face the axe and a further 118 will be merged with existing Whitehall departments.

It's a move that will no doubt please the Conservative's core support, who have long viewed quangos with a substantial dose of distrust. In this veritable age of austerity it was never a secret that many would go but the breadth and depth of the cuts will make for giddy reading for the ideologically-minded right; amongst those facing the boot include the Film Council, the Audit Commission, the Youth Justice Board, the General Teaching Council and the various Regional Development Agencies located around the country.

Bizarrely, however, this exercise may not actually save any money; Downing Street has vaguely promised there would be savings "in future years" but there are already fears that costs arising from the closing process will outstrip any money that will be saved. Already this decision not only appears rushed but underpinned by ideology rather than by economics.

And then there's the question of whether the work that quangos do are as worthless as the coalition are making out. Yes, there are some whose work may appear superfluous or replicated across several agencies and it is reasonable to push through limited reform, but this list extends much deeper then that. The Conservatives are suggesting that we simply don't need the work of almost 200 agencies and that we should spend money in closing them instead. It's a no-win situation for all concerned.

Chile miners come to the surface

The feel-good story of the year is rapidly coming to a conclusion, and ahead of schedule to boot. The first of the Chilean miners to have been trapped underground for over two months has been rescued and authorities at the San José site say that they expect the remainder to join them within a matter of hours.

It's a remarkable tale; the men - trapped after a rockfall caused a tunnel to collapse - have spent longer underground than anyone else in history, a fact made all the more remarkable given that initial contact wasn't established with the surface for 17 days. That it looks increasingly likely that all will safely return home explains the global attention that has focused on a previously obscure region that some consider chiefly famous for Pinochet and wine, a fact not lost on the numerous flag-wavers at Camp Hope. Expect superstardom for the miners and a film deal to follow.

But amidst the jubilation it must be remembered that safety standards in the mining industry in many countries are frequently appalling and the death toll often inexcusably high. Chile itself is no stranger to industrial accidents; in 2006 an explosion at the Carola-Agustina copper mine in Copiapó trapped 70 miners underground and President Pinera has promised an improvement in conditions in the wake of this latest near-tragedy.

Chile is not the worst offender in this category, however; that accolade goes to China where thousands of lives have been lost in its coal mining industry in recent years. In the energy-hungry nation the race for fuel has created a boom in poorly-regulated mines, and despite the promise of safety improvements after the 2005 Sunjiawan mine disaster - in which 214 people were killed - there are worries that another catastrophe is long overdue.

That the miners have been rescued is an extraordinary achievement, not just for the men and their families but all those around the world who have been glued to their television screens. But the elation of their safe return must not mask investigations into whether it could have been prevented in the first place - and whether anything can be done to stop it happening again.

Coaliton back unlimited tuition fees

Liberal Democrat Business Secretary Vince Cable has announced the government's endorsement of proposals to lift the cap on tuition fees in higher education. Cable said the "persuasive proposals" of Lord Browne's radical funding reforms were "fair and progressive".

It could become the coalition's most divisive policy to date; Liberal Democrats have long been opposed to the principle of tuition fees and during the election many of the party's parliamentarians signed a pledge against any fee increase. Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg even made a video for students in which he delivered a personal message saying that tuition fees were "wrong" and that he would oppose them. To see such a quick turnaround suggests that the famed Lib Dem brake is not halting any of their Conservative colleagues' policies, and it's not surprising that during the conference season disquiet within Liberal ranks was visible particularly in the field of education. A backbench rebellion is already being threatened.

But what of the plans themselves? Should the cap be abolished? Is it fair that prospective students might expect to pay fees in the region of £7,000 a year - Cable's own estimate - and with the added possibility of an optional higher fee level?

There is no doubt that university is expensive, and that the cost of gaining a degree can saddle a graduate with debt for many years. But the huge number who apply for higher education courses each year shows that it is still regarded as a desirable career path. As it stands fees are already enough to deter those who are least able to afford them.

Inflating fees will only serve to prevent those from poorer backgrounds from attending university; that these fees will also vary wildly from institution to institution and from course to course will merely make higher education more elitist. The fact that students in Scotland do not have to pay fees whilst those in the rest of the United Kingdom also increases a sense of injustice. As the UCU lecturers' union said, the proposals are "the final nail in the coffin for affordable higher education".

There is no doubt that universities need money, but pricing out those who cannot afford it and making it an exclusive zone for the well-to-do is at the very least morally questionable. Education presents a net social benefit that outstrips its purely individualist gain; it's time government recognised it as such.

LFTRs to power the planet?

I recently received an email from Colin Megson, a fellow Leeds-based blogger who has taken it upon himself to champion the Liquid Fluoride Thorium Reactor. In his blog he describes the potential benefits that the adoption of such power sources would provide; apparently a clean and unlimited source of energy.

I have to admit that my own knowledge of the science behind LFTRs is limited at best; I've never adopted the knee-jerk reaction that typifies the nuclear debate but I do realise that if it weren't for the pesky radioactive waste that it produces nuclear power would be one of the greenest forms of energy production currently available. What is without doubt, however, is that it's of the utmost importance that we ditch our reliance on fossil fuels, and not just for the obvious environmental benefits that this would entail; as a non-renewable energy source coal and gas will eventually run out and alternatives need to be found, the sooner the better. That fossil fuel dependence has helped to fund often corrupt and despotic regimes is another reason to start looking elsewhere.

For those of you interested in these things it's well worth having a look at Colin's blog and making your own mind up; there's also a balanced dissemination here which looks at some of the disadvantages of LFTRs as well as the benefits. It's a debate which deserves much more prominence then it currently gets.

Netherlands Antilles 1954 - 2010

A lot of people may have not been aware that today marks the formal disintegration of one of the world's nation states. The Netherlands Antilles, that bastion of Dutchness floating in the warm seas of the Caribbean, is no more; in its stead are two new constituent countries within the Kingdom of the Netherlands and three special municipalities of the Netherlands.

In reality this will mean little change; individual referendums on each of the islands all rejected the notion of outright independence and each will remain in the Dutch sphere of influence. By following the lead of Aruba - which seceded from the Antilles in 1986 - Sint Maarten and Curaçao will gain slightly more in terms of self-government, whilst the remaining islands of Bonaire, Saba and Sint Eustatius will actually strengthen their political ties with the Netherlands proper. What wasn't popular, it seems, was the islands' link with each other, and it was always unlikely that joint governance would last long into the 21st century.

So we must bid farewell to the Netherlands Antilles after 56 years and change the global political map once again. How long it will be before the next alteration comes is extremely difficult to say...

Destination Knoydart

I've spent a very sunny day in the Cairngorms National Park near Aviemore as part of the selection process for the Gore-Tex Knoydart Wilderness Trek. In case you missed it this week-long expedition at the end of October will be led by author Cameron McNeish and filmed by award-winning Richard Else, and it offers two lucky winners the opportunity to experience travel in one of the UK's prime wilderness locations. Knoydart is so remote that its few miles of roads are not connected to the rest of the country's network and is only accessible by boat or on foot.

Five finalists  - pictured above from left to right are James MacKeddie, Stephen Treby, myself, Douglas Leckie, and Adam Cushley - spent the day walking in the hills and getting to know Cameron and learning something of his philosophy surrounding the connection between people and landscape. Joining us was Richard and two representatives from Gore, who together made up the four-strong judging team; after individual interviews in the glorious sunshine of Glen More we eventually learned our fate on the shores of Loch Morlich.

And it really was too close to call. Any of the finalists could lay a legitimate claim to one of the places on the expedition; the guys were all fun, friendly and endlessly enthusiastic. Everyone desperately wanted to travel to Knoydart and if it was based purely on merit then we'd all be heading there at the end of this month.

But only two could go, and it felt like an age before we were finally told. It was my good fortune that James and I were both chosen, and whilst being ecstatic it was hard not to feel for those who would not be joining us. I sincerely believed the judges when they said that it had been an extremely difficult choice to make.

I've now got two weeks to prepare for what will without doubt be an amazing experience. I've always wanted to visit Knoydart and now I've got the opportunity to go with some of the most experienced people in the field. It should be quite a trip...

Update 11/10/2010
Photographs from the day in Aviemore can be seen here.

I'm off to Aviemore

Blogging will be light this weekend; I've very fortunately been shortlisted for the Gore-Tex Wilderness Trek in Knoydart later this month and am spending this Saturday in Aviemore with Cameron McNeish and the rest of the judging panel. There's only two spaces on the expedition so fingers crossed...

The Hippoduct

One of the themes of this year's West Leeds Arts Festival was the hippo, or rather miniature versions of them; 500 were produced and handed to local schools to be painted and decorated for an Armley hippo trail which stretched the length of the main shopping street. Not only was it a great example of cross-community involvement but also livened up what is - despite a recent facelift - perhaps not the most beautiful Leeds commercial district.

Armley library is the home of the above model, which is a proposal for a huge hippo sculpture down the road in nearby Kirkstall. For those not familiar with the area a large viaduct carrying the railway line to Harrogate crosses the Leeds & Liverpool Canal and the A65; the sculpture would take up a lane of Kirkstall Road as it passes through one of the viaduct's arches.

It's an interesting concept; West Leeds is a vibrant part of the city but has little in the way of specific landmarks. A project like this could well turn national attention to Leeds and would personify the area's quirkiness.

But I'm not convinced that it will ever be built. Aside from the costs involved there is the not-so-trivial matter of shutting down a lane of one of Leeds' busiest commuter roads, which is almost always at a standstill in peak rush hour traffic. Then there are questions over whether the sculpture would be an impediment to vehicles - artist Chris Gauntley says that it wouldn't be - and whether it would influence the structural integrity of the viaduct itself. When these issues are considered in the context of recession then the chances of it being built looks as likely as an army of hippos appearing in the middle of Armley.

Then again...

New animal species discovered in Asia

A change from politics now. Scientists working in the Mekong Delta of Southeast Asia have discovered a host of new species including fish, carnivorous plants, bats, birds and snakes. In all some 145 species were scientifically documented for the first time last year; it's remarkable news from an ongoing project to document the region's wildlife.

And it's important that this work continues. The WWF, who are running the project, have suggested that whilst many of these species have been preserved by their isolation the effects of climate change are having a serious impact on their chances of survival. That they all have limited numbers and ranges also makes them particularly vulnerable to the effects of environmental degradation.

It's also surprising that these creatures have been unearthed in an area that was once the scene of heavy fighting in the Vietnam war, which spilled over into neighbouring Laos and Cambodia; indeed, the conflict witnessed some of the heaviest aerial bombardments seen since the second world war and the use of defoliants such as the notorious Agent Orange. One wonders how many species were lost before they were even discovered.

But studies such as this afford the opportunity to act before it's too late. Pressure on animal species in the 21st century is likely to be the greatest ever seen, with burgeoning global populations placing ever more pressure on limited and finite resources. Projects such as these help to ensure as much biodiversity as possible survives for as long as possible.

Tory numbers in decline

Conservatives smug at the sight of a less-than-full Labour conference might have to keep their mirth quiet; Tory party membership has apparently fallen by 80,000 since 2005. It's now thought to hover at 177,000 - about the same as that claimed by Labour - which is perhaps surprising that the party is now in government for the first time in 13 years.

I'm not sure what membership figures are like for other parties or whether they've seen a similar decrease - or increase - in their numbers; this sort of information is often closely guarded which is not surprising given the political mileage opponents might make of it. That there is not always a direct correlation between member numbers and activists means that these numbers should not always be used as the sole indication of a party's support.

But it certainly is a big drop and the Conservatives may be wondering what might be behind it. Is it indicative of a general public apathy towards all politics, or the result of Cameron's leadership? Or are one-time Tory supporters being attracted to other parties? Are people angry at the coalition? Or is it something else entirely? Answers welcome...

Is cutting child benefit fair?

The Tory conference has only just begun and already the Chancellor has revealed what will almost certainly be one of his most controversial economic reforms to date; a pledge to cut child benefit to those families where one parent is earning in the region of around £44,000 a year from 2013. George Osborne has argued that the policy will represent "tough but fair" changes to benefits but already opponents have suggested that it undermines the Conservative's self-appointed role as champions of the family unit.

At first glance scrapping child benefits for those households that have relatively large incomes does not seem unreasonable given the current economic climate, particularly when previously announced coalition policies - such as the infamous rise in VAT - will disproportionately hit the poorest in society. To many people the thought of taking home £44,000 is the stuff of dreams; even when I was working two jobs and 50 hour weeks until very recently I was earning less than half this. I doubt I'll ever be in a position where I might come close to having such a hefty pay packet and the same must be said for most people in a country where the average household income is considerably less than this. Those that complain that they can barely scrape by on £44,000 are perhaps unaware of just how fortunate they actually are.

But there are also many problems with this proposal which give cause for genuine concern. The main gripe for many is that is assessed solely on whether one parent crosses the threshold, so a couple with one person earning £44,000 and the other nothing will lose their benefit but a couple earning £43,000 will keep it. The Prime Minister has rejected the notion of means testing every family unit as prohibitively expensive and invasive but the lack of a sliding scale will reinforce the notion that the figure the government have used is rather arbitrary.

And then there is the problem of universality. Child benefit was founded on the notion that it should be readily available to all households irrespective of income, and in this respect it is a truly egalitarian creation. Altering its terms so that only certain households qualify may well make it susceptible to the sort of contempt that so many of the Chancellor's colleagues readily regard other benefits.

As if to illustrate the point Osborne also offered some carrot at the same time as he offered his stick; a cap that renders the maximum amount of benefits that any single family can claim at about £26,000, the same that the average family gets from work. Despite the lurid tabloid headlines suggesting that scores of British households suffer from intergenerational joblessness and live luxury lifestyles courtesy of the welfare state it's widely acknowledged that such a cap will have virtually no effect on the budget deficit because the problem - if it genuinely exists - is vastly exaggerated. Populist moves such as these must not be allowed to mask the rather odious ideological motives that underpin them.

The Coalition are admittedly faced with a difficult task; Osborne wants to make cuts that will make many people jobless whilst at the same time reducing the public welfare bill, a toxic mix which will almost certainly lead to stormier times ahead. Demanding that children should shoulder part of the burden may not go down well with the Conservative's core supporters or the wider electorate either.

An environmentalist own goal

I'm a firm believer in human-induced climate change. To me it makes sense that the unsustainable exploitation of the Earth's resources can and will have a pronounced effect on the world we all must live in. And I'm not the only one; not only is there a massive majority-consensus among scientists that climate-change is a reality but it is readily visible for the rest us to see in extreme cases such as the disappearing Aral Sea. That climate change policies can promote efforts such as recycling, cleaner living, sustainability and energy efficiency is for everyone's benefit, whether they remain convinced or not.

And climate change scepticism is surprisingly well-spread in spite of the evidence to the contrary; there are those who do not wish to change their habits of consumption, or believe that exploitation of natural resources is essential for economic growth, or that it's all a big conspiracy promoted on behalf of vested interests in governments and private companies alike. Engaging sceptics is an incredibly important part of the climate change debate because their intractability seriously undermines environmental efforts.

So it's irritating when that message is delivered in such a way that can offend or alienate those people that need convincing the most. This is an excellent example; a short film by campaigners 10:10 depicts those that refuse to engage with efforts to cut carbon emmisions by 10% getting blown up in a particularly gory fashion. The film has since been withdrawn but is available to watch on Youtube and it would seem that the damage has been done; it is already being referred to as 'propaganda'.

It's a distinctly misguided effort. Suggesting that those who dissent against mainstream opinion are worthy of death is not going to convince anyone, even if the message - that apathy contributes to the problem - is an important one. The climate change debate is one that needs to be engaged with on all sides without counterproductive and patronising efforts such as these; arguing that that debate shouldn't take place at all will only harden the resolve of those who refuse to believe.

Elf 'n' safety to be banned?

Elf 'n' Safety, the contemptible term that the likes of Richard Littlejohn use to collectively dismiss the UK's occupational health legislation, may well be coming to an end. A government-commissioned report is urging an end to "excessive" health and safety rules that enable councils to cancel popular activities, with Tory peer Lord Young claiming that form-filling had replaced common sense and that the rules had become "a music-hall joke".

Elf 'n' Safety has been a long running theme of tabloids such as the Daily Mail and The Sun, the former even employing the risible phrase in its gleeful coverage of Young's report. It's perhaps not surprising that these papers - with their own politically suspect agendas - have done much  to promote the myths and distortions which may yet decide future government policy.

So it's disturbing when the likes of the BBC repeat these very same myths without question. Its report on Young's 'findings' mentions cheese-rolling in Gloucestershire - an event apparently banned by busybody officials at the Health and Safety Executive but actually postponed by its organisers because too many people were turning up - and schools demanding that its pupils wear goggles to play conkers or banning it altogether despite the HSE pointing out that such moves are completely unnecessary and nothing to do with them.

As with a lot of these myths their generation either lies in deliberate misreporting - as with cheese-rolling - or the actions of a well-meaning individual - such as a headmaster - acting on their own initiative without any guidance or sanction from government departments. The HSE is now in a position where it has to regularly debunk these stories for the sensationalist slander that they really are.

It's a well-used tactic of certain sections of the press, however, to repeat lies enough times that they become accepted as truth without question even by more reputable organisations such as the BBC. Coverage of emotive subjects such as health and safety and immigration is often reported in such a biased fashion that their worth in a genuinely objective debate is virtually nothing. And yet we're now in a position where government policy may be substantially influenced by the Daily Mail's outrageously partisan and deliberately misleading editorial.

As Littlejohn might have put it, you couldn't make it up...

Thanks to Angry Mob for the tip.

New Daily Rant poll: will Ed Miliband ever be Prime Minister?

Being the first of the month there's a new blog poll up and running. This time our attention turns to the Labour party and its new leader, Ed Miliband; do you think he will one day lead the party to victory in a general election and become Prime Minister, or will the coalition prove too resilient? Will Ed even survive that long given that election day could be several years off?

Results for the previous poll - which asked whether a minimum pricing for alcohol should be introduced - were the closest of any DR survey to date: 53% said yes and 46% said no. Whether the missing 1% is down to spoilt ballot papers or not is difficult to say...