Category Archives: Climate emergency

Sheffield- Where democracy goes to die.

At last, Sheffield City Council has been forced to apologise to the people of the city over its handling of the destruction of thousands of street trees. Forced apologies never seem sincere, especially when the first attempt doesn’t include the word “sorry”. Now Councillor Mark Jones has rephrased his apology and there are even murmuringsContinueContinue reading “Sheffield- Where democracy goes to die.”

Stop the new dual carriageway in Sheffield

A new dual carriageway is being proposed, to run from Park Square to Granville Square, behind the station through Sheaf Valley Park. It is part of a £1.5 billion scheme to revamp the Sheaf Valley area of the city centre.  City planners have had the gall to proclaim that this will help meet our climateContinueContinue reading “Stop the new dual carriageway in Sheffield”

Do we really have a free press?

Extinction Rebellion has taken a great deal of flack recently, for preventing Rupert Murdoch’s papers from leaving the printers on 3rd September. Much of the argument has concentrated on the assertion that it is anti-democratic to disrupt the free press. But do we really have a free press in this country?   Empty newspaper shelves inContinueContinue reading “Do we really have a free press?”

What do West Ham, Southampton, Chelsea and Norwich City have in common?

(A letter to the Star and Telegraph) Football fans, what do West Ham, Southampton, Chelsea and Norwich City have in common? They are the 4 Premier League clubs who will be at risk of flooding every season within the next 3 decades. A report by the Rapid Transition Alliance found that a quarter of allContinueContinue reading “What do West Ham, Southampton, Chelsea and Norwich City have in common?”

A challenge to the Blades and the Owls

In my youth, a popular mantra was “Sport and Politics don’t mix”.The truth is that sport and politics have always gone hand in hand, sometimes for the good, sometimes not. Marcus Rashford won a brilliant victory, forcing the Prime Minister to continue free school meals over the summer and has now launched a campaign againstContinueContinue reading “A challenge to the Blades and the Owls”

Coldplay, Leonardo DiCaprio and Malala

What do I have in common with Coldplay, Leonardo DiCaprio, Malala, Emma Thompson, Annie Lennox, Brian Eno, Greta Thunberg and Bjork? Well along with thousands of scientists, activists and celebrities I have signed a letter to EU leaders and Heads of State demanding we must stop pretending we can solve the climate and ecological crisisContinueContinue reading “Coldplay, Leonardo DiCaprio and Malala”

The demands for racial justice and climate justice are two sides of the same coin.

I am a white, heterosexual, professional man, so you may question my qualifications to write about racism. However, I hope you will give me the benefit of doubt and continue reading.  When I was newly married and living on Hyde Park flats, my wife got a job childminding a beautiful Nigerian baby. We used toContinueContinue reading “The demands for racial justice and climate justice are two sides of the same coin.”

Bail out the planet

A letter to the Star in reply to Gary Speck It is a shame that Gary Speck of Millhouses does not recognise that Extinction Rebellion supporters may also currently be mourning the loss of loved ones, be risking their lives in front line jobs or wondering if they will still have a job when theContinueContinue reading “Bail out the planet”

We need a new normal

Politicians are debating how the country can get back to normal as we begin the long road to recovery from Coronavirus. Citizens should make it clear that we must not return to “business as normal”. My heartfelt sympathies go out to all who have lost loved ones to this awful pandemic and to those thatContinueContinue reading “We need a new normal”