It seems fitting that on Towel Day, a story about the high intelligence of dolphins and whales should crop up. Anyone who has ever read Hitchhikers will fail to be shocked at new discoveries on the relative brain power of these majestic creatures.
This BBC article starts by asking if we should ever be hunting such creatures. Personally, I find that if you have to ask yourself that question, you're a heartless monster. Of course we shouldn't be hunting them - they are intelligent, graceful beings, and not even the fearsomely named Killer Whale is a threat to us. Oh, but apparently they're good for research. Research, one assumes, into how many whales you can kill in a season.
The article goes on to raise brief surprise that public backlash after the death of a handler at SeaWorld was directed towards the captors, not the whale. I'm not sure anyone thought angrily of the whale in this instance, so I'm not sure why the writer thought the lack of anger "surprising". There has been growing unease about keeping such large, socially complicated and fundamentally wild creatures in captivity for any reason, and a tragic event like this only highlights just how inadvisable it is. I could not contemplate seeing such a sight as a voyager of the ocean waves, an animal of such demonstratively social tendencies, being kept in a pen with little company for the entertainment of others. Still, I cried about keeping elephants in British zoos, so maybe I'm just a pathetic liberal whingebag.
My hope is that June's meeting of the IWC rejects whaling as a valid "research" tool and finally starts the process of ending this barbaric practice for good. For more on these issues, I heartily recommend the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society for their website, lots of information and how you can help.
Tuesday, 25 May 2010
Thursday, 13 May 2010
The ConDemNation
After the dust settled, the culls made, the reporters collapsed from exhaustion - we've got a government. It isn't a Conservative government, nor Labour, nor Liberal Democrat. It's that scary c-word that seems to strike fear in to the heart of Nick Robinson and some of the right wing press, and I don't mean Communism. No, dear readers, we have a coalition.
Let's just savour that for a moment. A coalition.
Despite my first instinct to have a very large gin (I'm teetotal, by the way, to put that into perspective), I'm gradually and illogically optimistic about the whole affair. The press are treating it like a marriage - I'm not even kidding, it was referred to as a Civil Partnership - and Cleggeron are here to revolutionise our politics. Already the changes have begun; fixed terms of office, for a start, so we already know when the next election will be. Put May 7th, 2015 into your diaries, fact fans. Electoral reform! Taxation cuts! Taxation rises! All this and more could be ours. It's a bloody well Brave New World, only with less recreational sex and more rampant consumerism.
Except, well, it isn't. You only have to glance at the cabinet for those itching little niggles about the Conservatives to come rising up to the surface again. For a start, the new Home Secretary and Minister for women and equality (that's going to be a business card and a half), Theresa May, doesn't exactly seem the sort of person you'd be expecting to be championing equality. The Pink News has a good run down of her voting history of LGBT issues, although it should be noted that she has been vociferous recently within the party about reclassifying civil partnerships as marriages and equal marriage rights. A change of heart?
For the record, very little mention of any green issues yet. Although, with Caroline Lucas now sitting as an MP, I imagine it won't remain quiet for long on the environment front!
I'll run down the cabinet in a couple of days when I've had a chance to look at each of them in detail. For now, let's just enjoy the blossoming love affair between the left and right, and see how it goes.
Let's just savour that for a moment. A coalition.
Despite my first instinct to have a very large gin (I'm teetotal, by the way, to put that into perspective), I'm gradually and illogically optimistic about the whole affair. The press are treating it like a marriage - I'm not even kidding, it was referred to as a Civil Partnership - and Cleggeron are here to revolutionise our politics. Already the changes have begun; fixed terms of office, for a start, so we already know when the next election will be. Put May 7th, 2015 into your diaries, fact fans. Electoral reform! Taxation cuts! Taxation rises! All this and more could be ours. It's a bloody well Brave New World, only with less recreational sex and more rampant consumerism.
Except, well, it isn't. You only have to glance at the cabinet for those itching little niggles about the Conservatives to come rising up to the surface again. For a start, the new Home Secretary and Minister for women and equality (that's going to be a business card and a half), Theresa May, doesn't exactly seem the sort of person you'd be expecting to be championing equality. The Pink News has a good run down of her voting history of LGBT issues, although it should be noted that she has been vociferous recently within the party about reclassifying civil partnerships as marriages and equal marriage rights. A change of heart?
For the record, very little mention of any green issues yet. Although, with Caroline Lucas now sitting as an MP, I imagine it won't remain quiet for long on the environment front!
I'll run down the cabinet in a couple of days when I've had a chance to look at each of them in detail. For now, let's just enjoy the blossoming love affair between the left and right, and see how it goes.
Tuesday, 11 May 2010
Do we have a government yet?
Having now mostly recovered from Votergeddon, I'm feeling mildly anxious that we appear to have no functioning government. Nick Clegg has been a'courting two houses, and like a coy mistress, is giving nothing away.
Yesterday there was the spectacular sight of the media shooting it's load over the prospect of the Lib Dems forming a coalition with Labour to form a "progressive alliance" and gleefully reporting the resignation of Gordon Brown as if he were some kind of tinpot dictator being ousted by an army of angelic freedom fighters. There was even a special "we don't know what is happening, isn't it exciting!" programme on BBC1 last night; I suspect they are just finally relieved that standing out in the cold beside number 10 has a purpose other than looking like a ministerial stalker. I only hope it quietens down soon and we get a conclusion, if only for David Dimbleby's sake.
Please forgive this blogger if this piece seems distracted - I am currently viewing the live feed from BBC news, where a number of developments have crashed through the status quo. It seems Clegg has finally decided which suitor to walk down the aisle with, and it looks like Gordon Brown is resigning for nothing. Downing Street have just announced that the talks with the Lib Dems are over, leaving only an alliance with the Conservatives. A Tory government is looking more and more likely, albeit one tempered by the Lib Dems. Further reports after the 10 o'clock news, when we should know for definite who's going to be living behind the big black door for the foreseeable future.
Yesterday there was the spectacular sight of the media shooting it's load over the prospect of the Lib Dems forming a coalition with Labour to form a "progressive alliance" and gleefully reporting the resignation of Gordon Brown as if he were some kind of tinpot dictator being ousted by an army of angelic freedom fighters. There was even a special "we don't know what is happening, isn't it exciting!" programme on BBC1 last night; I suspect they are just finally relieved that standing out in the cold beside number 10 has a purpose other than looking like a ministerial stalker. I only hope it quietens down soon and we get a conclusion, if only for David Dimbleby's sake.
Please forgive this blogger if this piece seems distracted - I am currently viewing the live feed from BBC news, where a number of developments have crashed through the status quo. It seems Clegg has finally decided which suitor to walk down the aisle with, and it looks like Gordon Brown is resigning for nothing. Downing Street have just announced that the talks with the Lib Dems are over, leaving only an alliance with the Conservatives. A Tory government is looking more and more likely, albeit one tempered by the Lib Dems. Further reports after the 10 o'clock news, when we should know for definite who's going to be living behind the big black door for the foreseeable future.
Thursday, 6 May 2010
Were you awake for Lucas?
It took until five to 6 this morning, but eventually the votes for Brighton Pavilion were in - and Caroline Lucas is the new Green MP. This is genuinely the best news I've heard in a long time, and I welled up on seeing her take her place.
Massive congratulations, Caroline. Knock 'em dead.
Massive congratulations, Caroline. Knock 'em dead.
Breaking news - the votes are being counted, except the ones that aren't
Apparently, plenty of people haven't, because they've been turned away. I've coped and posted this because it's from the rolling news coverage and as of yet has no fixed web address:
How widespread is this problem? How many voices are not being heard?
This election is brought to you by Michael Bay
Plane crashes! Fisticuffs! Queuing! Yes, it's election day, and my, what a day it's been already.
Much as I regard UKIP and it's policies with distaste, I would never wish an incident like the one Nigel Farage experienced today. My best wishes are with him and the pilot, and hopes for a speedy recovery. See, I'm not making any jokes about his support crashing or anything. I'm the very model of grown up self control.
The dirty little street brawl on the part of BNP candidate Bob Bailey invokes an entirely different set of emotions with me. I suppose it was bound to happen at some point - and I'm thankful no serious injuries or larger scale violence surged in the wake of the bilious nonsense the BNP spout.
Reports are also coming in of polling stations positively bustling with voters, indicating a much heftier turnout that the shameful one seen in recent elections. An end to voter apathy? It's a shame it's taken such monumental buffoonery on the part of the political process to get people all fired up.
More later as the results come in...
Much as I regard UKIP and it's policies with distaste, I would never wish an incident like the one Nigel Farage experienced today. My best wishes are with him and the pilot, and hopes for a speedy recovery. See, I'm not making any jokes about his support crashing or anything. I'm the very model of grown up self control.
The dirty little street brawl on the part of BNP candidate Bob Bailey invokes an entirely different set of emotions with me. I suppose it was bound to happen at some point - and I'm thankful no serious injuries or larger scale violence surged in the wake of the bilious nonsense the BNP spout.
Reports are also coming in of polling stations positively bustling with voters, indicating a much heftier turnout that the shameful one seen in recent elections. An end to voter apathy? It's a shame it's taken such monumental buffoonery on the part of the political process to get people all fired up.
More later as the results come in...
Wednesday, 5 May 2010
The Last Day
Rosettes are being polished, smiles of gracious victory practiced, confetti primed, jack boots readied. Well, one of those isn't quite true. The environmental impact of confetti is too much for many modern councils to take.
It's the last day in what has been probably the most exciting, if convoluted, election campaign for as long as the media can remember (i.e. 10-15 years, give or take). When the doors open and the stubby polling booth pencil is hovering over the page, where will your "x" fall? Perhaps the breaking stories this week have influenced your vote; perhaps you'd rather just get in there and use the time honored "eeny meeny", or pin hopes on a last minute divine vision in your dreams this evening. Tonight, you dream of David Cameron! Probably mud wrestling with Nick Clegg. You'll thank me in the morning.
It's in these last days that the most revealing moments have somehow unveiled themselves, as if in the highly caffeinated haze the parties are suddenly waking up. For one, Gordon Brown gave the speech of his life, not even flapped by an anti-nuclear protester (or the enormous heavies ushering him away, one of whom looked remarkably like the Kingpin in an ill-fitting suit). He seemed articulate, passionate, but above all human. Where has this man been in the past weeks? Although the cynic within wonders if he added the references to Cicero and Demosthenes in response to last week's This Week programme discussing the literacy levels of the party leaders, that's a minor moment of pedantry - I was actually incredibly impressed.
Meanwhile, a media blackout reigns on the Phillipa Stroud issue; the Tory party have apparently threatened to sue if the mainstream press run with the story. One commentator at the Guardian worries that the lack of press coverage is emblematic of the fact that "homophobia is a fringe issue" - not because of the right wing bias of much of the media?
There have been some interesting tactics from Labour candidates too - Peter Hain and Ed Balls encouraged us to "vote intelligently" - which apparently involves not voting for them. A rather radical interpretation of party support, but this is put in the shade by the incredible own-goal buffoonery of Labour candidate Manish Sood who lambasted the PM as the worst ever, as well as pining for a Britain of the 1970s (presumably with all the joys of racial, sexual and social inequality?), and demanding more respect for the Queen. If anything, I expect this to gain sympathy for the PM rather than rally fellow "freedom fighters" to Sood's cause.
Amidst the three-party posturing and preening, a little Green voice shines through. Caroline Lucas slammed the leaders' debates as a "three-party stitch up" that meant important issues did not get a proper airing. She rightly points out that with the millions of viewers and blanket coverage, the debates had an enormous influence on the voting public. I can only imagine what might have happened should we have had her influence on the stage, though then we would have also had "the future is orange" Nigel Farage and "no black Welshmen" Nick Griffin making the proceedings about as politically relevant and serious as the average episode of Tiswas.
It's the last day, folks. Tomorrow, use your voice and vote.
It's the last day in what has been probably the most exciting, if convoluted, election campaign for as long as the media can remember (i.e. 10-15 years, give or take). When the doors open and the stubby polling booth pencil is hovering over the page, where will your "x" fall? Perhaps the breaking stories this week have influenced your vote; perhaps you'd rather just get in there and use the time honored "eeny meeny", or pin hopes on a last minute divine vision in your dreams this evening. Tonight, you dream of David Cameron! Probably mud wrestling with Nick Clegg. You'll thank me in the morning.
It's in these last days that the most revealing moments have somehow unveiled themselves, as if in the highly caffeinated haze the parties are suddenly waking up. For one, Gordon Brown gave the speech of his life, not even flapped by an anti-nuclear protester (or the enormous heavies ushering him away, one of whom looked remarkably like the Kingpin in an ill-fitting suit). He seemed articulate, passionate, but above all human. Where has this man been in the past weeks? Although the cynic within wonders if he added the references to Cicero and Demosthenes in response to last week's This Week programme discussing the literacy levels of the party leaders, that's a minor moment of pedantry - I was actually incredibly impressed.
Meanwhile, a media blackout reigns on the Phillipa Stroud issue; the Tory party have apparently threatened to sue if the mainstream press run with the story. One commentator at the Guardian worries that the lack of press coverage is emblematic of the fact that "homophobia is a fringe issue" - not because of the right wing bias of much of the media?
There have been some interesting tactics from Labour candidates too - Peter Hain and Ed Balls encouraged us to "vote intelligently" - which apparently involves not voting for them. A rather radical interpretation of party support, but this is put in the shade by the incredible own-goal buffoonery of Labour candidate Manish Sood who lambasted the PM as the worst ever, as well as pining for a Britain of the 1970s (presumably with all the joys of racial, sexual and social inequality?), and demanding more respect for the Queen. If anything, I expect this to gain sympathy for the PM rather than rally fellow "freedom fighters" to Sood's cause.
Amidst the three-party posturing and preening, a little Green voice shines through. Caroline Lucas slammed the leaders' debates as a "three-party stitch up" that meant important issues did not get a proper airing. She rightly points out that with the millions of viewers and blanket coverage, the debates had an enormous influence on the voting public. I can only imagine what might have happened should we have had her influence on the stage, though then we would have also had "the future is orange" Nigel Farage and "no black Welshmen" Nick Griffin making the proceedings about as politically relevant and serious as the average episode of Tiswas.
It's the last day, folks. Tomorrow, use your voice and vote.
Monday, 3 May 2010
David Cameron and the Red Queen
Just call him Dave. Really, he's quite nice you know. He kisses babies and just loves the poor. The old Conservatives are dead! long live the Conservatives!
This is what they want you to believe, of course. That there has been a monumental paradigm shift within the Conservative party, and now they're fluffy liberal bunnies just itching to embrace the lower classes, the LGBT population, the trades union. You have to wonder how many people can see beyond this peeling layer of bullshit coloured paint and into the dark recesses of a party that hasn't changed one jot. The carefully constructed PR exercise that is David Cameron has toiled away to re-brand them as a caring party - but even if you genuinely believe that David Cameron represents such changes (Charlie Brooker certainly doesn't, and I for one can't argue with him) then he's doomed to eternally push and push his veneer of reason to keep up with the tidal wave of vitriol that seeps from within his party ranks.
It'll take all the running he can do, just to stay in the same place.
For every time he comes out in support of a group like Hindus in Britain, there's an MP declaring that homosexuality is not normal on his campaign website. For every performance he gives in a televised debate emphasising how he will help the poor, the vulnerable and the frail, there's an MP with a background in a church that allegedly sought to banish the "demons" of homosexuality and transgenderism from vulnerable individuals. The latter story was broken by the Observer yesterday, and I would be discussing it in more detail, but fear that my mental faculties are currently too clouded by fury to get any further than AAAARGGHHH.
So next time you hear David Cameron talking about social justice, just remember - he's most probably wearing leopard print boxers.
This is what they want you to believe, of course. That there has been a monumental paradigm shift within the Conservative party, and now they're fluffy liberal bunnies just itching to embrace the lower classes, the LGBT population, the trades union. You have to wonder how many people can see beyond this peeling layer of bullshit coloured paint and into the dark recesses of a party that hasn't changed one jot. The carefully constructed PR exercise that is David Cameron has toiled away to re-brand them as a caring party - but even if you genuinely believe that David Cameron represents such changes (Charlie Brooker certainly doesn't, and I for one can't argue with him) then he's doomed to eternally push and push his veneer of reason to keep up with the tidal wave of vitriol that seeps from within his party ranks.
It'll take all the running he can do, just to stay in the same place.
For every time he comes out in support of a group like Hindus in Britain, there's an MP declaring that homosexuality is not normal on his campaign website. For every performance he gives in a televised debate emphasising how he will help the poor, the vulnerable and the frail, there's an MP with a background in a church that allegedly sought to banish the "demons" of homosexuality and transgenderism from vulnerable individuals. The latter story was broken by the Observer yesterday, and I would be discussing it in more detail, but fear that my mental faculties are currently too clouded by fury to get any further than AAAARGGHHH.
So next time you hear David Cameron talking about social justice, just remember - he's most probably wearing leopard print boxers.
Saturday, 1 May 2010
It's not that easy being Green
In the terrifying world of election time, the major parties pump so much effort into mainlining their "message" to the (frequently indifferent) general public, it's hard for smaller parties to get a look in. This isn't always a bad thing, as in the case of the BNP political broadcast, a Freudian nightmare of 1930s style propaganda and distilled bile which I would pay a fortune to not have to witness again. The Greens have been a traditional target of elbow-jabbing sniggering mockery in every election campaign since their inception, so let's take a look at how they're being treated in good old 2010.
First up, the BBC sticks the knife in likening the political broadcast to a trail for a CBBC programme. Harsh words, though the rest of the article grudgingly admits it is something new amidst the buzzword bingo going on amidst other parties' offerings.
Next up, the Grauniad, with a surprisingly vitriolic and cynical view on the manifesto launch. As well as incorrectly stating that the Greens are a one-issue party (they never have been, having always had a full manifesto voted on by members at Conference, the same as any other party), the columnist insinuates that their policies are some kind of pie in the sky fantasy scrawled in green crayon.
The Telegraph gives a remarkably balanced view on the Green tactics of personalised emails and focusing on social networking. Despite some emotive and negative language slipping in occasionally, the article is pleasantly neutral in tone, and highlights the popularity in key constituencies such as Brighton Pavillion.
For you, dear reader, I have braved the Stygian depths of the Daily Mail to find their opinion on the matter. After my soul gradually dripped out of my ears from scanning over articles varying from criticising a celebrity for being "dowdy" whilst househunting to a repugnantly misogynistic piece of swill from witchfinder general Jan Moir, ostensibly discussing the leaders' wives. The bile rose too high for me to delve any further, I'm afraid.
The daily Express fares rather better, with several relevant articles popping up when I searched. Their review of the manifesto launch, in contrast to the Grauniad, is a fairly standard trotting out of facts and figures, with not a scrap of emotive language, chest thumping or derision. Colour this blogger immensely surprised.
Next, the aggressively brash The Sun website. The experience was like diving for pearls in an oil slick, and finding only abandoned shopping trolleys. A search turned up only three articles in 2010, and two of those were about Pete Doherty. Your guess is as good as mine.
I could probably find much, much more, but feel I have contributed quite enough to my high blood pressure for one day. Find a piece you think I should read? Leave a comment with the link below.
First up, the BBC sticks the knife in likening the political broadcast to a trail for a CBBC programme. Harsh words, though the rest of the article grudgingly admits it is something new amidst the buzzword bingo going on amidst other parties' offerings.
Next up, the Grauniad, with a surprisingly vitriolic and cynical view on the manifesto launch. As well as incorrectly stating that the Greens are a one-issue party (they never have been, having always had a full manifesto voted on by members at Conference, the same as any other party), the columnist insinuates that their policies are some kind of pie in the sky fantasy scrawled in green crayon.
The Telegraph gives a remarkably balanced view on the Green tactics of personalised emails and focusing on social networking. Despite some emotive and negative language slipping in occasionally, the article is pleasantly neutral in tone, and highlights the popularity in key constituencies such as Brighton Pavillion.
For you, dear reader, I have braved the Stygian depths of the Daily Mail to find their opinion on the matter. After my soul gradually dripped out of my ears from scanning over articles varying from criticising a celebrity for being "dowdy" whilst househunting to a repugnantly misogynistic piece of swill from witchfinder general Jan Moir, ostensibly discussing the leaders' wives. The bile rose too high for me to delve any further, I'm afraid.
The daily Express fares rather better, with several relevant articles popping up when I searched. Their review of the manifesto launch, in contrast to the Grauniad, is a fairly standard trotting out of facts and figures, with not a scrap of emotive language, chest thumping or derision. Colour this blogger immensely surprised.
Next, the aggressively brash The Sun website. The experience was like diving for pearls in an oil slick, and finding only abandoned shopping trolleys. A search turned up only three articles in 2010, and two of those were about Pete Doherty. Your guess is as good as mine.
I could probably find much, much more, but feel I have contributed quite enough to my high blood pressure for one day. Find a piece you think I should read? Leave a comment with the link below.
Officially Green
The postman has brought me a lot of exciting post this week, but today's was probably the most important - my membership pack from the Green Party. If you had told me ten, five or even a year ago that I would actually be a paid up member of a political party, I would have been edging away from you as if you were drooling madly. Yet here I am, reading the magazines, logging into the website - and getting fire in my belly about issues again.
Perhaps most flatteringly of all, they consider me to be a Young Green. They clearly haven't seen my grey hairs.
Perhaps most flatteringly of all, they consider me to be a Young Green. They clearly haven't seen my grey hairs.
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