Everyday Musings

This year, I studied MST121 - Using Mathematics with the Open university, which is a great course my tutor was brilliant.

Anyway, come September I was in the frame of mind that I just wanted to get it done.

So having handed in my last assignment, I have been settled back waiting for my mark in February, only to my shock of getting a letter through my door the other week, early saying I have passed! with an OCAS/OAS score of 90, which I have no idea, what that means.

So onwards and upwards, next year I hope to do M255 Object-Oriented programming with Jave. Which starts in February.

One of our slowly slowly steps towards a greener conscience, was the purchase of some “Ecoballs”, unfortunately not from a local supplier, which I realised we had after the purchase, we won’t dwell on that!

These things promise to save you money and clean your washing and with less water, what more could you want.

I guess you could want them to work. Well I guess we were lucky then, as they seem to work, so far… As far as I can tell there is no difference to the washing apart from the smell. Although the other half, seems like she may need some more convincing!

So I guess final judgement is still not going to be forthcoming!

Seems from what I read, that some of these Carbon Offsetting companies are more ethical than others. The benefits are also being brought under question, from parties such as the World Wildlife Fund and Friends of the Earth. I suppose it is possible to have too much of a “good” thing. Certainly a perceived “good” thing.

Of course if these organisations are questioning common carbon offsets, such as reforestation then we should be listening. They have some valid points, and some which have answered my own questions/suspicions. Some of their points include:

• How long a new forest would be present, before it starts to re contribute CO2, into the atmosphere, through decay, or fire etc.
• If the calculation of CO2 offsets accounts for stored CO2, in the soil and decaying vegetation.
• How a single species of tree in a forest would impact on the local environment and eco system.
• Lastly what real impact this has on the purchaser actually reducing their dependence on fossil fuels.

The long and the short of it is we should be looking at more sustainable carbon offsets such as those who invest in renewable energy sources. Such as Global Cool.

What is also interesting when you start looking a bit harder is, the amount of you contribution that actually gets used for the offset, and does not end up in someone’s pocket, this can be as high as 40% or as low as 20%. At 20% it sounds like the company would be taking a more sensible admin cut, but any high and one has to wonder.

It all goes to show we need to start looking a bit below the surface. One organisation who vet offsetting companies is Gold Standard, and also if Defra recognise them you are in with a good chance, as the companies have to meet certain requirements.

Some recommendations from the above organisations:

• Global Cool
• Equiclimate
• Climate Friendly
• MyClimate
• Atmosfair

Also interesting reading is the WWF, Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth statement

On our way to take advantage of another day of glorious sunshine, in our not so Eco car, I always take the back roads to avoid the lights in our local.

I am really proud of the way our neighbourhood has had a revival of shops, we have a Butcher on Richardson Road, who is excellent together with a Fish monger, on Portland Road is a Green Grocer, all of who are great locals and who are flying the flag. What also amuses me is the shops tucked in the streets of Poets Corner, there are all sorts of Organic shops and various trades.

Today was no exception to this, apart from the fact I nearly crashed into the parked cars, as the other half said, “Nigel’s Eco Store!” Would you believe it Poets Corner has it’s own Environmentally friendly store! I had to kick myself at this stage, because I had only just purchased my “Ecoballs” via ebay, and could have got them at the top of the road, and been a bit more environmentally friendly…

I am really looking forward to getting my “Ecoballs”, and shall post back as soon as I have tested them, if they are all they are cracked up to be then they will definitely be worth the money, and save a few more chemicals from going into the water system.

Looks like we are all finally getting on the plane, out of here.

According to the papers emigration levels are up, and a record number
of us, are opting for a better life outside of our once lush islands.
Hardly surprising.

Let’s face it. We live in an enviroment, were violent crime is higher
than some third world countries and were most of us struggle to afford
the daily cost of living. We have the lowest disposable income of any
other European country, and the weather is crap too!

So you think something will be done! Yes, nothing will be done. Try
reporting a crime, if you are luck the authorities will give them a
slap on the wrist.

Unless of course, it is for throwing a sausage and then you are in
trouble, of to court for you! But don’t worry you’ll almost certainly
end up getting out early for good behaviour. Great. The joys of being
a well behaved criminal!

How can they even consider letting the likes of Jill Dando’s killer
out early. Lucky for us he is still in there.

So, why else would you want to leave sir? Well if the criminals, the
tax, the polution, or povety don’t get me the noise will!

How many times does one need to complain, with the support of the
community around them to get something done about noisy neighbours?
Answers by postcard, please.

The truth is unbeleavable, especially given the study done by the
World Health Organisation, which confirms what most of us already
suspected. Noise leads to poor health, and early death inevitably as a
result.

Just to add insult to injury, I am sure you local health authority is
not to far in the red to help you!

Thank you Great Britain, I’m off!