Prospects: Monday, 14 April, 2008
- 14 Apr 08, 11:02 AM
Liz Gibbons is today's programme producer. Here is her early email to the team.
Good morning,
Unsustainable world?
In the first of a series this week on issues surrounding sustainability, we ask if the production of biofuels really is a "crime against humanity" as one UN official has claimed.
What else can we do?
What can the government do in policy terms to illustrate that it can steer the country through an economic crisis?
Is Gordon Brown's authority as PM all but destroyed, as some papers seem to claim?
What's gone wrong with the government's new domestic violence legislation?
Will we get any results from Zimbabwe today?
And we have a fascinating film from Congo - the Chinese are on the verge of signing a multi-million dollar deal with the Congolese government to mine for cobalt - in return the Chinese will build massive amounts of infrastructure - roads, hospitals etc. Will it work? Read .
Liz
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WHAT鈥橲 GONE WRONG
You raise domestic violence legislation, asking: 鈥淲hat鈥檚 gone wrong? But what of governance as a whole? 鈥淲hat鈥檚 gone wrong鈥 is that universal suffrage is an invitation to the politically-minded to apply Machiavellian principles to the masses, in the business of gaining, holding and wielding power. Within the lie of 鈥渄emocracy鈥, the most extreme of the political-minded rise to almost absolute power. History has shown, time and again, that power must be constrained and monitored, while the granting of absolute power must be avoided. Thus we have achieved exactly the wrong mentality 鈥 individually and corporately 鈥 at Westminster. Meanwhile, the 鈥渁lpha 鈥 male鈥 in every home (TV) spews violence, hate, humiliation, gratuitous self/other abuse, and nihilism. Does that answer your question?
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I'd like to see some clear analysis of the impact of deforestation in South America, Indonesia and elsewhere. How much carbon sinking potential has the planet lost in order to clear ground to grow soya, maize and sugar? How does that compare with the annual output of the UK?
What percentage of the food that the UK consumes is imported? How far away is this country from being able to support its own basic nutritional requirements and how does that compare with other contries? What policies could the government implement to encourage national self-sufficiency and what effect would they be likely to have on prices?
As a resident of Hove, I have potential access to around 2300 allotment plots (approx one for every 100 residents) and, for reasons of exercise, self-sufficiency and interest would very much like one, but the waiting lists are currently closed indicating an outstripping of supply by demand. What are the obstacles for a council like Brighton & Hove extending the amount of available allotment space? Is there any political will to see a programme of allotment expansion undertaken?
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The SADC's lack of will to address issues in Zimbawe would be highly interesting viewed from the P.O.V. of a Charity trying to raise funds for Africa. What will be the anticipated impact on British giving to Africa in the future?
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Bio ethanol is.......
Another scam from the banksters for whom Bush works.The US is still the world`s greatest hydrocarbon user importing nearly 70% of its demand yet will not drill off shore California,Anmwar or put turbines offshore Mass.. It even has off visible off shore oil seeps.Their policy is to be last man standing in oil depletion stakes only when it has exploited other country`s resources.
Africa would not be so vulnerable to Chinese exploitation if developed nations had not been so busy stripping it eg. sanctioned mercenary attemtped coup against Eq. Guinea,exploitation of North West African fishing etc .etc etc..Interestingly the G7 nations have yet to make good on debt write offs but when it comes to central bank bail outs of greedy banks there`s no holding back.(Incidentally Livingstone was a missionary but his good work was destroyed by 1880 Berlin treaty to carve up Africa-we did`nt really care about Africa then and we still do not.)
Economy . Well we will not hear an austrian economist thats that`s for sure. The rising inflation due to massive increase in money supply at 17% in US according to Shadow stats will not get a mention. The journos will talk about rising oil prices which are the result of the falling dollar to which the UK is tied.The UK has a trade deficit in the bottom three next to Spain and is the third largest holder of US debt. (T-Bills) behind China and Japan.(See CIA factbook) This is the real meaning of the `special relationship.`
The US is bankrupt and it will take the UK down with it.
Historic justice.
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1. The Banks have been building/making the problems with our money system for years now by faulsly building their profits from unsupportable loans to customers against far too little income (% or 6 times earnings for a mortgage being typical). Isn't it time they were compelled to honour the Contracts that they have made with their customers rather than calling for the Bank of England to bail them out?
2. Dedicating rainforest and such to clearance for bio-fuel manufacture is tantamount to taking food from the mouths of the Babes of the poor in this World so that the better off can swan around on their backsides in their automated transport. At best it is foolish and at worst it is murder.
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I took a moment to put the kettle on during Paul Mason's report on our troubled economy. Co, blimey, I though...as I walked back into the living room....Alasdair Darling's job is really taking it's toll....only to be enlightened when the caption popped up with Ray Burrell's name!
Incidentally, the so called food shortage 'riot' film clip shown tonight looked remarkably like a scene from the Kenyan election riots shown on TV a few weeks ago.
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