The Silent Pandemic – the risk to children’s health

Posted on by Patrick Sudlow

Many childhood illnesses are on the rise, and a growing body of scientific evidence links pesticide exposure to this troubling trend.
Using facts and findings from the current body of evidence, I hope you’ll join me in taking a stand for kid’s health!
Let’s make protecting children from pesticides a national priority, one conversation at a time >> Public Action

The site may be American, but the problem is also relevant within the UK.  Especially as more and more Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) are finding there way into processed food.  Monsanto GMOs particularly have been adapted to be resistant to Round-up, a pesticide which is known to be a carcinogen.  Some of the information that can be found on their site:

When it comes to pesticides, children are among the most vulnerable. Pound for pound, they drink 2.5 times more water, eat 3-4 times more food, and breathe 2 times more air. They therefore absorb a higher concentration of pesticides than adults.

Infants and children also face unique exposure because of how they interact with the world: they crawl on the ground and put things in their mouths — including their hands. They also face exposure during critical windows in the womb and via breast milk.

Developing Brains & Bodies

Children drawingsSince they are growing so quickly, infants and young children are more susceptible to the effects of pesticide exposure than adults. Their developing brains and bodies are in the midst of complex and fragile developmental processes that regulate tissue growth and organ development — and these developmental processes can be irreversibly derailed by pesticide exposure.
Drawings by preschoolers exposed to pesticides (Valley) compared to those by preschoolers not exposed (Foothills). See “Developmental Delay” below.

Research indicates that children exposed to pesticides either in utero, or during other critical periods face significant health risks including higher incidence of:

  • Birth defects
  • Neurodevelopmental delays & cognitive impairment
  • Childhood brain cancers
  • Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD)
  • Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (AD/HD)
  • Endocrine disruption

Many of the worst pesticides, known as “persistent organic pollutants,” or POPs, contaminate our water and soil for years. They move on the wind and in streams, rivers and oceans and concentrate as they move up the food chain. Other pesticides are so widely and heavily used that they contamine our food and water supplies (chlorpyrifos and atrazine are good examples).

Health Effects: The State of the Science
Get the latest on the state of the science, including reports on Brain Development, Autism, and ADHD. Learn More »

So, while farmer and farmworker’s children bear some of the highest risks, pesticides contaminate the environment and permeate the food supply such that even kids in city cafeterias face daily exposure.

SKWalkers views on George Osborne’s speech

Posted on by Patrick Sudlow

A thoughtful critique on George Osborne’s speech and all it entails. I would not agree with the writer that things were improving under Labour. I see them both, as seriously evil, political parties that protect the rich and corrupt.  And have not taken on-board, the fact we have to move away from this ‘growth’ mentality.  We live on one planet but living as if we live on three.

SKWAWKBOX's avatarSKWAWKBOX

I’ve been a bit out of circulation since yesterday evening because of work travel, so maybe someone else has already done this. But maybe not. Most of the media reports I’ve seen on George Osborne’s speech yesterday at the Tory party conference have centred on his laughable scheme to have employees swap their employment rights for shares in their employer’s company. I’ll take a look at why it’s ridiculous too, but first I want to take a look at the other things he said and what they say about him.

My mother used to love reciting the old saying, ‘Whenever you point a finger at anyone else, you’re pointing three back at yourself’. Of course, that that was a form of finger-pointing never seemed to occur to her – but that doesn’t mean it isn’t often true!

So, let’s take a look at Osborne’s speech in some detail (though I’m…

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Ripped-off Britons: Key political fibs, and some tips on how to refute them

Posted on by Patrick Sudlow

I have posted before, that the UK, especially the City of London Corporation is the biggest Tax Haven in the World.  Our political elite, Labour and Conservative constantly tell us they cannot tax the rich because the financial sector would leave this country.  They also tell us, it is unfair to tax the rich, because success should be rewarded.  But we know, they have only been successful by acting in a criminal way and evading tax.  That, money will trickle down, but for generations we have seen the reverse.  The article below gives some answer, you can use in reply to the nonsense being peddled by the political elite.

Ripped-off Britons: Key political fibs, and some tips on how to refute them.
You can send a message by signing the following petition, asking for a reform of the banking sector:

Big Change in Banking  

The papers are full of stories of how the Conservatives are going to cut benefits, claiming tax-payers are sick of paying for the work-shy.  Most of those who are on benefits have no choice, there is no paid work for them.  The way the Economy is modelled, does not take account of those who do unpaid work, such as housewives and those who care for relatives.  We are going back to the times of Dickens, were the poor were thought to have brought on themselves and deserved punishment.  Whilst the rich fleece each other in a very corrupt business world.

Jobless and big-families lose benefits  

I wonder, are those who are in employment and earn more than the average wage, will continue to receive child benefits, even though they do not need it?  The cuts are supposed to be in the region of £10 billion but the Government is taking about spending £70 billion of a Trident missile program replacement, not mentioned in the papers.

Welfare-cuts of £10 Billion 

And of course this ‘Green’ Governments commitment towards renewable energy, which has seen the Chancellor talk about tax-breaks for ‘fracking’.  Has disillusioned major energy companies, who are now talking not investing in the UK.

Green Energy under threat

The views of SKWalker 1964, on the lack of ‘Duty of Care’ by the DWP

Posted on by Patrick Sudlow

IF SKWalker is right, and the DWP (Department for Works and Pensions), a Social Impact Assessment was never carried out on the affects of changes to disability benefits.  It would appear then, that they have failed in their ‘Duty of Care’ and in my opinion, may have contravene Government legislation; The Equality Act 2010.  

Both the last Labour Government and this Government have done nothing to bring the criminals involved in numerous Banking illegalities to justice.  Stating, all sorts of nonsense, why it was not possible to bring criminal charges.  And instead both the last Labour Government and this Conservative Governments have poured money into a corrupt banking system.   Max Kaiser and Stacy Herbert cover some of these illegal activities carried out by Financial Institutions causing abject poverty on millions of people.

And yet, those who are unfortunate and who which to have a basic standard of living, those of us who are fortunate enough enjoy, Equality.  But both Labour and Conservatives Governments and Local Governments, have done their best to demonize the unfortunate.

 

Six Reasons Why Politicians Believe They Can Lie | Psychology Today

Posted on by Patrick Sudlow

An interesting article on why politicians lie.  And it is very pertinent to Manchester and the Labour run council.  For years now councillor Richard Leese and Howard Bernstein have been trumpeting the success of their regeneration plans for the City.  This is despite their are hundreds of office and retails units empty, some for years since being built.  Then, there is the high unemployment, deprivation, poverty, fuel poverty and homelessness.  Even despite all this evidence, their plans have not succeeded but have been proven to be a waste of tax-payers money.  And in some cases, this money cannot be accounted for, but no criminal investigation or charges have been made.  Still, their loyal following, including members of Labour’s shadow cabinet, think everything is fine.  In the meantime, the real Mancunians (no matter what their colour), suffer.  And the reason why, is explained in the article below.

Six Reasons Why Politicians Believe They Can Lie | Psychology Today.

A story about Ryan Air

Posted on by Patrick Sudlow

Come Fly With Me !!!!!

For those who have flown RYANAIR:
“Spare a thought for Michael O’Leary, Chief Executive of ‘Ryanair’…….

Arriving in a hotel in Dublin, he went to the bar and asked for a pint of draught Guinness. The barman nodded and said, “That will be one Euro please, Mr O’Leary.”

Somewhat taken aback, O’Leary replied, “That’s very cheap,” and handed over his money.

“Well, we try to stay ahead of the competition”, said the barman. “And we are serving free pints every Wednesday evening from 6 until 8. We have the cheapest beer in Ireland.”

“That is remarkable value” Michael comments.

“I see you don’t seem to have a glass, so you’ll probably need one of ours. That will be 3 Euro please.”

O’Leary scowled, but paid up. He took his drink and walked towards a seat.

“Ah, you want to sit down?” said the barman. “That’ll be an extra 2 Euro. You could have pre-booked the seat, and it would have only cost you a Euro. I think you may to be too big for the seat sir, can I ask you to sit in this frame please?”

Michael attempts to sit down but the frame is too small and when he can’t squeeze in he complains: “Nobody would fit in that little frame!”

“I’m afraid if you can’t fit in the frame you’ll have to pay an extra surcharge of €4.00 for your seat sir.” O’Leary swore to himself, but paid up.

“I see that you have brought your laptop with you” added the barman. “Since that wasn’t pre-booked either, that will be another 3 Euro.”

O’Leary was so annoyed that he walked back to the bar, slammed his drink on the counter, and yelled, “This is ridiculous, I want to speak to the manager!”

“Ah, I see you want to use the counter,” says the barman, “that will be 2 Euro please.”
O’Leary’s face was red with rage. “Do you know who I am?”

“Of course I do Mr. O’Leary,”

“I’ve had enough! What sort of Hotel is this? I come in for a quiet drink and you treat me like this. I insist on speaking to a manager!”

“Here is his E mail address, or if you wish, you can contact him between 9 and 9.10 every morning, Monday to Tuesday at this free phone number. Calls are free, until they are answered, then there is a talking charge of only 10 cents per second.”

“I will never use this bar again!”

“OK sir, but remember, we are the only hotel in Ireland selling pints for one Euro”.

 
Posted on by Patrick Sudlow

I totally agree with Kevin Anderson and he repeats something I have said for some time. It is the affluent middle-class who contribute most to climate-change. And yet they try to demonize those on low-incomes and benefits.
This is particularly true of certain members of Manchester Green Party, who make token gesture, like showing up at meetings holding a bicycle. Though they are motorists, who cannot live without their cars. One person in particular, I do not think has never used public transport in her entire life. Others are quite happy to jump on a jet for short journeys, such as to Ireland. Then they dismiss those who live in social housing as being uneducated and do not care about climate change. They do care, but why, when the are struggling to warm their homes, should they listen to some clown, from an affluent background, who is living quite well?

In fact, these so-called educated middle-class bullies and hypocrites, are the ones who need to change the way they live. And I think JK Rowlings comments in the Guardian, more or less potray my own thoughts on middle-class hypocrisy:

middle-class-nastiness

and I think these middle-class hypocrites should also take note of what an American newscaster had to say about bullies:

jennifer-livingston-newscaster-fightback-bully.

I have said it before, ‘Hypocrisy, hypocrisy, every where I look, nothing but hypocrisy and not a drop of truth to quench my thirst for knowledge’.  Sorry Samuel Taylor Coleridge for adulterating part of your The Rime of the Ancyent Marinere.

manchesterclimatemonthly's avatarmanchester climate monthly

Below is Professor Kevin Anderson’s submission for the recent “Climate Clock is Ticking” series.  The Guardian don’t appear to have used it in either their print edition or online.  Below his submission we have posted our response to the same invitation.

The request for the piece from the New Economics Foundation was:

‘The Climate Clock is Ticking. Normal isn’t Working. What Will You Do Differently?’

We would like to use your answer in a feature of collected insights to mark the half-
way point of the 100 months climate countdown that began in August 2008, and to
highlight what can be done differently in the next 50 months.

_____

My day job is to translate the science of climate change into the everyday language
we use to understand our lives. To chaperon policy-makers in the transition towards
a low-carbon UK, and to help companies and civil society understand the…

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