malumbu

A number of you use the term "illegal levels of pollution". It may help your cause if you toned the rhetoric down a little. There have been 'illegal' levels of pollution ever since the limits were set. Government has been through numerous challenges through the courts, and would have been subject to action by the EU (obviously as long as we stayed in it), until the Supreme Court Stepped in. So illegal levels of pollution are not something new. As this is seen all over the UK who should be taking action against most of the local authorities? I could soap box about illegal drivers (and other road users), speeding, using their mobile phones. But I choose other ways of campaigning. Personally I'd be happy to have drivers with hands on mobile phones having their cars sent to the crusher. That would learn them, five points just isn't enough. There are some adult discussions to be had on reducing pollution. There is nice thread that has died a death since being put on the Lounge (shame). Ultimately we need to use our cars less. I do. On a parallel subject why do we have traffic calming? Because so many motorists will not keep within a sensible speed, so we have to have these clumsy interventions. Same can be argued for air quality and carbon emissions. I've attached the government's 2019 Air Quality Strategy for some weekend reading: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/770715/clean-air-strategy-2019.pdf

A conundrum electric scooters - illegal to ride them on the road and pavement, only the former if hired (due to insurance and vehicle approval/licensing requirements). But they are openly on sale, few if no prosecutions and are here to stay. The twist and go e bikes are similarly illegal. We've had some threads already on e scooters. So go and try an e-bike, one of the assisted ones please!

I've had a go on an electric assisted bike - it was great fun and like having a little push. Something that I may consider when my body gives up further I've found a useful guide from Sustrans: https://www.sustrans.org.uk/our-blog/get-active/2021/everyday-walking-and-cycling/where-to-start-with-electric-bikes-all-you-need-to-know/?utm_source=Sustrans&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=12313362_The%20Network%20April%202021&utm_content=The%20ultimate%20guide%20to%20electric%20guides&dm_i=6EB,7BX1U,A1PZC8,TQQRQ,1 Hope this is useful. Great to hear of your experience - perhaps keep the debate on sustainable transport to other threads.

Helpful post on pruning, was planning to do soon but maybe wait a few more weeks. Just bought a tonne of bird food from one of the on line stores - jeez it's gone up in price. Also use Pets at Home, Poundland and occasionally Sainsbury's. Have 7 feeders out back and two in the front. The Goldfinches prefer sunflower hearts, and will bully the great tits should they try to have a feed. Occasionally they will feed from the niger feeder, when I first put this up two years ago it was very popular. They do use the niger feeder in the front. A more hidden suet pellet feeder is popular, mainly great tits, occasionally black caps, great spotted woodpecker. Not seen the following birds recently - long tailed tits, blue tits, dunnocks, blackbirds and thrushes. Always assume that it is because food if plentiful elsewhere. Five or more frogs in the pond, and maybe ten newts. Was getting double figures on frogs last summer, think they are particularly plentiful during very hot weather. Have to keep cutting back the pond plants. Don't get frogspawn though.....

I've been passing Goodrich and Heber school this week, obviously by bike, and congestion isn't too bad at 8.50, certainly better than, say, Francis Cabrini. But it always amazes me that there is the occasional parent/carer that just has to get as near as possible, irrespective of annoyances such as double yellow lines.

Seabag Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > rahrahrah Wrote: > -------------------------------------------------- > ----- > > This select committee performance is telling: > > > https://twitter.com/woodstoday/status/974661965346 > > > 934784?s=20 > > He (Hancock) is a horrible little turd. > > And even in amongst a cabinet and government of > other turds, he stands out. Think it is quite appropriate language, I'd normally argue the other way! Who was saying about polishing a turd - something to do with the Brexit deal?

On the broader subject of multi-culturalism I recall quite a few years ago hearing two older ladies, one white, one black, complaining about Vietnamese being treated preferentially over social housing. I thought twenty years earlier it would be two white women complaining about brown/black people getting preference, funny how life moves on. I expect now that the Vietnamese community have become more integrated the discussion would be about newer arrivals (sub Saharan Africa, Middle East etc). So yes, buy-in from both minorities and majorities.

Monkey Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > But then they have time to write social media > posts about wpc walking around and talking to > women about their safety. See Met posts from > yesterday. I?m fed up with this patronising shite. Ironic that you have the time to use social media too. If you are that bothered I am sure that the police would welcome you as a 'special' (PC) https://www.met.police.uk/car/careers/met/police-volunteer-roles/special-constable/special-constable-overview/?utm_source=Social&utm_medium=Twitter&utm_campaign=MSC-Recruitment-2020&utm_content=marketingimage

I seem to be the kiss of death on many threads. But seriously, there is still plenty to discuss here. Jeremy Vine yesterday had a phone in about air pollution - there was some good points on deliveries but particularly the amount of extra traffic due to construction. Edmund King (AA) always speaks well/balanced It's towards the end of the programme: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m000x0fj

There is a grown up conversation about 'British' culture and how it changes. It has always changed, as we get even closer to other parts of the world. But let's face it, we have been incredibly influenced by the US since the second world war. And that culture itself has changed as Hispanics, black Americans and other large groups have become mainstream (reflecting back on the great film 'On the Town' which only features white people in New York in the 1950s apart from the occasional musician or singer). That doesn't mean we shouldn't have zero tolerance for hate crime in sport. Rather we should be aware of other predominantly white parts of the country. I grew up in one of these areas, there was ignorance rather than racism. I am very different person today, mainly because I have lived in more diverse towns and cities for most of my working life. I am always struck by one person from my home town who keeps going on about mixed ethnicity families and advertising. I hadn't even noticed, but now I see many of the main stream ads do feature a nice mixed couple and their kids. Obviously not due to woke reasons but to sell product. They also talk about the BBC having to ensure that their sports reporters are diverse both in terms of ethnicity and gender. Again I don't notice or don't care. But this is how much of the country may view things - virtual signalling. Sadly of course communities feeling threatened has been exploited in recent years, with a move to populism, and has put some of this agenda back. Not condoning some of the behaviours discussed, just trying to see it from a different perspective.

The MPS crime update makes pretty sobering reading, generally restricted to murders and the like. London is generally a pretty safe city. The current update includes an article on an initiative in Southwark and Lambeth to improve safety for women: "Women are joining police officers on patrol in south London to share their concerns about safety, particularly in public spaces. The Met is determined to put an end to violence against women and girls and so a new walk and talk initiative has been set up in Lambeth and Southwark. Twenty five female neighbourhood officers are buddying up with women from within the community to walk the streets of south London and hear of their experiences, concerns and reflections. Those taking part will be able to discuss with police any locations in which they feel vulnerable and patrols will take place at times when there are fewer people, less traffic and light so officers can get a real sense of what their worries are." There are some named officers in the article so it may be worth raising this serious incidents (and others?) with them. https://news.met.police.uk/news/scheme-launched-in-lambeth-and-southwark-aimed-at-improving-safety-for-women-429023

Sorry for an off thread post. I liked it in the 1970s when many booed the national anthem at England matches. Nothing to do with racism, but that at the time there was a much greater support for a republic. Of course the national anthem is not the English National Anthem. Although it says nothing really about our UK - rather going on about monarchy and God (OK if you look closer there is also some derogatory lines about the Scots). I've covered both my views on our dirge of a National Anthem, and an appropriate song specifically for England in early threads. Notable also that at England football matches until Euro 96, fans would bring the Union flag, rather than the cross of St George. Just humour me and don't respond to this post. Plenty more interesting ones to discuss above. Sorry for not joining in Cat, but I'll read your current debate in slower time later.

Fair enough! The Last Leg captured things quite nicely on Friday (Adam Hills) - "England and Sussex bowler Ollie Robinson has been suspended from all international cricket pending the outcome of a disciplinary investigation following historic tweets he posted in 2012 and 2013" (ECB statement) Therefore it is not appropriate for politicians to comment until we have the outcome of this. My views are of course very much skewed towards inappropriate political intervention - this also includes taking the knee which is 'seen' to have been 'infiltrated' by Marxists, which 'supposedly' explains the booing. I was trying to demonstrate that my views may be different to middle England. On bigger issues, vetting of international sports people seems to be a no brainer. I've received security clearance in the last ten years and this included checking my social media status. You could argue that is is interventionists, but the internet is in the public domain and never forgets. So I formally apologise to anyone on the forum that I have dissed. On some aspects of hate crime sport doesn't help itself as there are many in the closet. It's sad that in this day and age I should be saying this, as this is a decision by the individual, but it sport was like some other professions where sexuality/gender fluidity etc is not an issue then this would help things to progress. Although I am sure that some in the creative industries will still get hate mail/social media comment. Of course race is something generally difficult to hide, and there are zillions of role models, making it even more puzzling that you get abuse. Love the tweet by one footy club responding to a lifetime fan who asked for his season ticket to be cancelled due to the support of an anti-racist initiative. The club Tweeted back that he would not be missed. https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11698/11999301/west-brom-hit-back-at-season-ticket-holder-who-called-anti-racism-message-patheticsupporter Edited to correct minor typo

That was a horrid experience and rather close to home too. Violent crime (surely) has to be investigated. You should also be referred to victim support - here is a South London contact - https://www.victimsupport.org.uk/resources/south-london/ And the government website https://www.gov.uk/get-support-as-a-victim-of-crime I hope that the perpetrator is caught and that you are not too traumatised.

There's quite a few duds in there. I should have been at Spain vs Poland.....

Why are you cutting the tree down? I hope that there is a good reason. At Sydenham Hill Woods there was a massive campaign to stop a few trees being cut down. If you have to do this be a sweetie and plant some elsewhere or make a donation to an appropriate charity.

Seabag Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Once those ?down under? get a taste for Marmite > instead of Vegemite, there?ll be no looking back. > > And I?m looking forward to free movement between > us, just the thought of popping to Melbourne for a > weekend is a lovely idea. I only hope Boris builds > a bridge to Australia, like the one he?s building > to Ireland. Do you come from the land down under?

With thanks for Mark on the racism in sport thread for effectively introducing me to this

Mark Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Sorry, I don't get the point you're trying to > make. Could you summarise? Oh you are trolling me. Sorry bit slow on the uptake. Thanks to the others for joining in the debate rather than targeting me.

Welcome to the Lounge - the best place for wider debate

Apologies for my poorly worded post. The Internet never forgets and Robinson has to face some sort of punishment. He should be a role model. I have no idea on what possessed him. Of course he should/will be allowed to move on - once his 'conviction' is spent. The John Terry incident was so poorly handled, Terry in my view isn't a racist but should have come clean, and made appropriate amends. I hope that the ECB handle this better than the FA did with Terry. This is the poorest Prime Minister in my lifetime and I see him only getting involved to boost his brand. England is still a racist country, sorry I should have said a 'very conservative' country, and sport has a role in helping to change this. Having said that there has been massive change for the better in my life time which makes me surprised of the booing of taking the knee. By all means argue that it is tokenistic as Wilf has said. But pretty pointless putting up a thread if others don't have different opinions - which we can debate and hopefully learn off each other. I came back from New Zealand in the 90s and was surprised about the racist views I heard from some white kiwis about the Maori. A mate at work said you'd get just as many racist views in rural areas about people of colour. That's just an anecdote about a situation where I thought that I was right and someone gave a different opinion that I respect and helped shape my thinking.

Spartacus Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > > To be honest , vehicles are just tools used by humans and the biggest contribution to poor air quality is humans. > Whilst it's not politically correct, maybe these discussions should be focusing on reducing the population which would result in bigger environmental gains. > Reduced number of cars, no flying on holiday, Growing what we needed eat so less use of bogs and > woodlands for food, reduced demands on diminishing resources and metals (iron... ) and less carbon > dioxide pumped out by our lungs.... > > No one is going to promote reducing population for example by birth control) and with China raising the family limit to 3 children, us reducing green house gasses is like peeing in the wind. Fair point - and I've made this point about living sustainably on this or another thread - there are so many on similar themes I've lost track. This will include having kids and how many. Although in the great scheme of things no point in the UK going alone. We've got a relatively low birth rate, but as with France we are an aging population without the young to look after us. So we get people from countries with higher birth rates and lower average age to do this for us (care homes, NHS as the like) - although Brexit has made this a bit more difficult (Eastern Europeans). The alternative is to have isolated older people looked after by robots (the way Japan is going). Sorry incredibly off thread. In terms of emissions we have cut total NOx and PM from transport hence other sources have become more relevant eg wood burners. There is often confusion between 'road side' and total emissions, as for many large sources much of the pollution is very dispersed by the time it gets to us. Rocks has the correct reference, ie the source of pollution in hot spots. But going back to my big issue - climate change - the UK set progressively tough limits on carbon emissions from different sectors and the performance of the transport sector is woeful. The EU set progressively tighter new car average CO2 on manufacturers which we are still signed up to (one way or another) but that doesn't seem to have the desired effect to date. Sorry I am a bit of an anorak.

Thanks for using the title outdoor swimming. I've swam outdoors for much of my life. I hate the term wild swimming. Here's some recommendations for 'wild swimming' - mainly the usual suspects (Hampstead/lidos etc): https://www.redbull.com/gb-en/london's-10-best-wild-swimming-spots I have one down in Kent I will get back to you on.

Whether you approve of the 'knee' or not it's right that sport promotes an end to hate crime in the UK So it is sad that the Prime Minister and other politicians wade in ad criticise the sanctions by the ECB against Ollie Robinson for his earlier racist (and sexist?) tweets. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/57398052 Although perhaps the PM is simply reflecting the views of much of the nation - excessive political correctness - in a nation that is predominantly white, western European, and Christian values (whatever the latter may mean). As perhaps judged by the booing of the knee by some English supporters. Discuss!