My son got dressed for school this morning underneath his duvet he was so cold.
Yesterday, by chance, I (and no doubt 1000's of customers) got a text from my electricity company:
"[Giant Thief]would really like to speak with you & complete a health check on your account before winter."
I called because I was meaning to call. I'm still paying last winter's debt. The girl on the other end of the phone said my bill would be increasing to account for the winter payments.
"No way!" I said. "I'm already paying £40 a week for last year which drives me into further debt week after week. I have not switched on my heaters yet and this morning my son was too cold to get dressed. My life is hard I don't care if I freeze to death but I cannot allow my child to freeze to death too."
Apparently, as from last week my account is in credit. I am using £68 a month of electricity - don't ask me how. Washing machine is used once a week. Water heats at night on an economy meter. They suggested I do my washing when the electric tariff is cheaper - after midnight.
Anyway, big plus, is the girl reduced my weekly payments to £15. The heaters haven't come on yet though and no-one is telling me how to use them efficiently.
Heh heh, efficiently. The girl admitted that storage heaters "are not that good anyway. They give out heat but it's not that warm."
So yeah, we're paying to freeze.
It's not a choice between heating and food. Debt pays my food at the moment. Debt pays my energy bill debt caused by this energy company.
Dave says pay your debts and then switch companies. Oh my god Dave, do you know nothing? We are beholden to these companies.
As luck would have it, this morning I got an email from Friends of the Earth. Please sign this petition. By not doing so you are demonstrating that you are as hopelessly out of touch as David Cameron.
I told the guy on the phone (for I got transferred to a guy) that it was a petition to stop the Big Six ripping us off.
"We're number 2!" he exclaimed joyously.
"It's nothing to be proud of," I replied.
Please sign it, it'll reduce your own bill too. Thanks.
http://www.foe.co.uk/what_we_do/final_demand2_32882.html (enjoy the video!)
Showing posts with label Climate campaigns. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Climate campaigns. Show all posts
Wednesday, 19 October 2011
Just Do It!!
Yesterday, all over the UK on university campus' the film Just Do It - A Tale of the Modern Outlaw was aired so those who missed it at the cinema had a opportunity to see it.
Fortunately for me there was one matinee showing at the Metropolitan Uni so I jumped on Zat bike, sang "It's not my day to die" in scary road moments and settled down in the college amphitheatre.
It's such a good film! Really. It follows a group of climate camp activists as they put their bodies in the way of corporate destruction of our planet.
Marina, the Domestic Extremist, who started putting her body in the path of political policy by making tea at demonstrations.
The intelligence and humour of these activists are the same people you see on the UK uncut protests. If you've not been on one of those, then you should see this film. One cambridge undergraduate jokingly says how easy it is to become an outlaw, but it's no joke, it is easy! That's exactly what I was in that kettle a week and a half ago.
One activist says how she returned from Denmark and the police brutality she experienced there during a UN Climate Change conference in Copenhagen "radicalised". That she'd campaigned about climate change before, but now, she would campaign against capitalism and how that is responsible for our planet's destruction.
It's an intelligent film, informative, and I for one am really relieved that there are people out there campaigning for my future and yours. Hope prevails even when hope is seemingly defeated. Campaigns have been won. People haven't lost their homes because plans for the third runway at Heathrow was cancelled to give one example.
Watch it, join in, www.justdoit.com :)
Just while I'm here, I want to upload this video of the kettling I was caught up in when I went to the Block The (NHS) Bill protest. I witnessed the violence you will see, moments before the kettling, which followed such a fun day. It's as though the police wait until the party's over then pounce. And politicians wonder why kids are angry. Anyway, I'm not the one with the camera, I'm the one in the corner, finding my religion (REM)
Fortunately for me there was one matinee showing at the Metropolitan Uni so I jumped on Zat bike, sang "It's not my day to die" in scary road moments and settled down in the college amphitheatre.
It's such a good film! Really. It follows a group of climate camp activists as they put their bodies in the way of corporate destruction of our planet.
Marina, the Domestic Extremist, who started putting her body in the path of political policy by making tea at demonstrations.
The intelligence and humour of these activists are the same people you see on the UK uncut protests. If you've not been on one of those, then you should see this film. One cambridge undergraduate jokingly says how easy it is to become an outlaw, but it's no joke, it is easy! That's exactly what I was in that kettle a week and a half ago.
One activist says how she returned from Denmark and the police brutality she experienced there during a UN Climate Change conference in Copenhagen "radicalised". That she'd campaigned about climate change before, but now, she would campaign against capitalism and how that is responsible for our planet's destruction.
It's an intelligent film, informative, and I for one am really relieved that there are people out there campaigning for my future and yours. Hope prevails even when hope is seemingly defeated. Campaigns have been won. People haven't lost their homes because plans for the third runway at Heathrow was cancelled to give one example.
Watch it, join in, www.justdoit.com :)
Just while I'm here, I want to upload this video of the kettling I was caught up in when I went to the Block The (NHS) Bill protest. I witnessed the violence you will see, moments before the kettling, which followed such a fun day. It's as though the police wait until the party's over then pounce. And politicians wonder why kids are angry. Anyway, I'm not the one with the camera, I'm the one in the corner, finding my religion (REM)
Thursday, 6 October 2011
The Fear of going to hell
I want to quote for you a passage from Conversations With God. The guy Neale Donald Walsh would write ranting letters to people whenever they upset him and one day he wrote a ranting letter to God and when he finished his hand kept going. It's an awesome book.
I'm quoting the bit I'm quoting because Lorna Byrne (I know, I'm going on aren't I? I'm probably not going to stop either) said she'd been shown two outcomes of our planet. One of total destruction and one of unity and peace. Both are attainable and we all know that it's not looking too good at the moment.
Anyway, it's chapter 4 and in the previous chapter Neale asked God what hell was.
"The big worry is that somehow we'll mess up and not get to ever see You, be with You."
"You mean "get to heaven"?"
"Yes. We're all afraid of going to hell."
"So you've placed yourself there to begin with in order to avoid going there. Hmmmm. Interesting strategy."
"There You are, being flip again."
"I can't help it. This whole hell thing brings out the worst in Me!"
"Good grief, You're a regular comedian."
"It took you this long to find that out? You looked the world lately?"
"Which brings me to another question. Why don't You fix the world, instead of allowing it to go to hell?"
"Why don't you?"
"I don't have the power."
"Nonsense. You've the power and the ability right now to end world hunger this minute, to cure diseases this instant. What if I told you your own medical profession holds back cures, refuses to approve alternative medecines and procedures because they threaten the very structure of the "healing" profession? What if I told you that the governments of the world do not want to end world hunger? Would you believe me?"
(Page 89. Don't be afraid of this book!)
Oh and read this which a friend wrote. A truly excellent blog:
http://www.thewritefuture.com/the-write-future/2011/10/eat-andor-die.html
I'm quoting the bit I'm quoting because Lorna Byrne (I know, I'm going on aren't I? I'm probably not going to stop either) said she'd been shown two outcomes of our planet. One of total destruction and one of unity and peace. Both are attainable and we all know that it's not looking too good at the moment.
Anyway, it's chapter 4 and in the previous chapter Neale asked God what hell was.
"The big worry is that somehow we'll mess up and not get to ever see You, be with You."
"You mean "get to heaven"?"
"Yes. We're all afraid of going to hell."
"So you've placed yourself there to begin with in order to avoid going there. Hmmmm. Interesting strategy."
"There You are, being flip again."
"I can't help it. This whole hell thing brings out the worst in Me!"
"Good grief, You're a regular comedian."
"It took you this long to find that out? You looked the world lately?"
"Which brings me to another question. Why don't You fix the world, instead of allowing it to go to hell?"
"Why don't you?"
"I don't have the power."
"Nonsense. You've the power and the ability right now to end world hunger this minute, to cure diseases this instant. What if I told you your own medical profession holds back cures, refuses to approve alternative medecines and procedures because they threaten the very structure of the "healing" profession? What if I told you that the governments of the world do not want to end world hunger? Would you believe me?"
(Page 89. Don't be afraid of this book!)
Oh and read this which a friend wrote. A truly excellent blog:
http://www.thewritefuture.com/the-write-future/2011/10/eat-andor-die.html
Monday, 14 March 2011
Dreams of 2012 - Horizon's Armageddon
Back in January, just following the earthquake in Pakistan, I had a dream (a dream? a nightmare?) that the world was ending. The Mayan prediction that in 2012 the world would end crashed into my sleep unconsciousness where I was told, get this, I was told to watch the Hollywood blockbuster "2012"
Why the fuck would I do that? I asked my dream. Earthquakes in Pakistan, Haiti, dead birds falling from the sky in America, I do not need to watch some disaster movie.
You need to learn to live in the present moment, said the dream. You have to learn to live now and make the most of every moment.
The next day, coincidentally, Sainsbury's was selling the "2012" dvd for £3 and there was only one copy left. So I bought it. And no, I haven't watched it. With recents events in Japan where a whole town has been wiped out and 10,000 people are missing...
BBC 4 are airing "A Horizon Guide to Armageddon". On Thursday, at 9pm. Well it wasn't to know I suppose. "A depressing kind of greatest hits from Horizon" says the Sunday Times critics choice. "..a guide to the end of the world that will make any little human worries seem trivial," it continues.
Climate change, destruction of the Gulf Stream, asteroids from space, "Supervolcanoes, influenza, nuclear war: the possibilities aren't so much endless as horribly final."
There is comfort apparently; Scientists are busy working on our ensuring our planet's survival.
Having failed to watch 2012, I may tune into this.
Live in this moment. Live NOW. NOW NOW NOW. This second. Arse on a cushion on the floor fingers tapping on the keyboard blue sky visible through the window. Right now I am safe. I hope you are too.
Why the fuck would I do that? I asked my dream. Earthquakes in Pakistan, Haiti, dead birds falling from the sky in America, I do not need to watch some disaster movie.
You need to learn to live in the present moment, said the dream. You have to learn to live now and make the most of every moment.
The next day, coincidentally, Sainsbury's was selling the "2012" dvd for £3 and there was only one copy left. So I bought it. And no, I haven't watched it. With recents events in Japan where a whole town has been wiped out and 10,000 people are missing...
BBC 4 are airing "A Horizon Guide to Armageddon". On Thursday, at 9pm. Well it wasn't to know I suppose. "A depressing kind of greatest hits from Horizon" says the Sunday Times critics choice. "..a guide to the end of the world that will make any little human worries seem trivial," it continues.
Climate change, destruction of the Gulf Stream, asteroids from space, "Supervolcanoes, influenza, nuclear war: the possibilities aren't so much endless as horribly final."
There is comfort apparently; Scientists are busy working on our ensuring our planet's survival.
Having failed to watch 2012, I may tune into this.
Live in this moment. Live NOW. NOW NOW NOW. This second. Arse on a cushion on the floor fingers tapping on the keyboard blue sky visible through the window. Right now I am safe. I hope you are too.
Sunday, 13 March 2011
Invest in Caring, Not Cuts and killing
Hey reader, I want change. Do you?!
Invest in Caring not Killing petition
"WE DEMAND change, like people everywhere.
We demand recognition and payment for all caring work, a shorter working week for women and for men, pay equity not only between women and men but across the globe, and non-polluting energy and technology so that we and our planet can survive."
http://petitiononline.com/GWS2011/petition.html
issued by
http://www.globalwomenstrike.net/
http://www.refusingtokill.net/
Invest in Caring not Killing petition
"WE DEMAND change, like people everywhere.
We demand recognition and payment for all caring work, a shorter working week for women and for men, pay equity not only between women and men but across the globe, and non-polluting energy and technology so that we and our planet can survive."
http://petitiononline.com/GWS2011/petition.html
issued by
http://www.globalwomenstrike.net/
http://www.refusingtokill.net/
Friday, 18 February 2011
Our forests saved from privatisation!!!
Great news isn't it?! I've been reading about it in different papers and heard yesterday on the news about the U-Turn (which they said was very 'embarrassing' for the coalition) on plans to sell off our forests.
I heard on the BBC that this U-Turn came about because "the public and honourable members were not happy."
Sadly, there are no "honourable members" unhappy about the secure, affordable housing shortage so no U-Turns there.
Or will there be?
One lives in hope....
I heard on the BBC that this U-Turn came about because "the public and honourable members were not happy."
Sadly, there are no "honourable members" unhappy about the secure, affordable housing shortage so no U-Turns there.
Or will there be?
One lives in hope....
Shot from the heart...
Attic Flat
16 February 2011
Dear Grant Shapps MP,
Downing Street suggested I contact you which I did (letter enclosed) but you never got back to me.
Mr Shapps, if you and your Government press ahead with your housing legislations, you will wreck the lives of millions of people.
For your information, my son and I didn’t get a council flat. There is a drastic shortage, nationally. We were placed, once again, in temporary accommodation, with a shorter two year lease this time and a weekly rent of £350 a week which I can’t afford. I do not have your wealth Mr Shapps. Millions of people do not have your wealth. Must we be penalised therefore and made to suffer?
Help me understand this legislation you are desperate to push through.
Do you wish to drive people out of their communities as my son and I were driven out of ours?
Is it your desire to create ghettos where we, the financially challenged must live, while you, the financially secure, live in protected communities?
Is it your desire that people remain in poverty? Or in debt?
Do you care about people’s health? Children’s education? These things are married to housing, the most basic need of all.
There is no need to make these drastic cuts to this basic human necessity which has already been neglected for decades.
The money is there to invest in housing, which in turn will create jobs. It will enable people such as me, the “unemployed” to afford work without recourse to housing benefit or threat of rent arrears and eviction. Well, one hopes that rents will remain affordable within the social sector.
You and your Government know all this. You can stop and think about what you are doing.
Will you stop and think about what you are doing?
I need to know what you really think of financially challenged people like me, the elderly, the disabled and children.
Please answer me this time and soon, before you make the changes.
Yours sincerely
If First Class is what it used to be, he'd have got this yesterday. If it's not, and I didn't pay the £5 ensured next day delivery, then he'll have got it today.
I've been listening to Jacko's Earth Song on repeat. It's a climate song for sure, but the power of it makes me think of the political climate too.
It's lovely, have a listen:
YAY!!! FINALLY!! TWO YEARS BLOGGING AND I'VE FINALLY FIGURED OUT HOW TO PUT ON A YOUTUBE LINK!
WOO HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
16 February 2011
Dear Grant Shapps MP,
Downing Street suggested I contact you which I did (letter enclosed) but you never got back to me.
Mr Shapps, if you and your Government press ahead with your housing legislations, you will wreck the lives of millions of people.
For your information, my son and I didn’t get a council flat. There is a drastic shortage, nationally. We were placed, once again, in temporary accommodation, with a shorter two year lease this time and a weekly rent of £350 a week which I can’t afford. I do not have your wealth Mr Shapps. Millions of people do not have your wealth. Must we be penalised therefore and made to suffer?
Help me understand this legislation you are desperate to push through.
Do you wish to drive people out of their communities as my son and I were driven out of ours?
Is it your desire to create ghettos where we, the financially challenged must live, while you, the financially secure, live in protected communities?
Is it your desire that people remain in poverty? Or in debt?
Do you care about people’s health? Children’s education? These things are married to housing, the most basic need of all.
There is no need to make these drastic cuts to this basic human necessity which has already been neglected for decades.
The money is there to invest in housing, which in turn will create jobs. It will enable people such as me, the “unemployed” to afford work without recourse to housing benefit or threat of rent arrears and eviction. Well, one hopes that rents will remain affordable within the social sector.
You and your Government know all this. You can stop and think about what you are doing.
Will you stop and think about what you are doing?
I need to know what you really think of financially challenged people like me, the elderly, the disabled and children.
Please answer me this time and soon, before you make the changes.
Yours sincerely
If First Class is what it used to be, he'd have got this yesterday. If it's not, and I didn't pay the £5 ensured next day delivery, then he'll have got it today.
I've been listening to Jacko's Earth Song on repeat. It's a climate song for sure, but the power of it makes me think of the political climate too.
It's lovely, have a listen:
YAY!!! FINALLY!! TWO YEARS BLOGGING AND I'VE FINALLY FIGURED OUT HOW TO PUT ON A YOUTUBE LINK!
WOO HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Monday, 23 November 2009
Karma
Yesterday I went to help Annie; she'd posted on Facebook that the Age of Stupid guys were getting ready for the climate convention in Copenhagen, was anyone free to lend a hand in preparation.
Well, yeah! I'd made no plans post walk and she mentioned music and beer!
When I got to their offices in Camden I smiled to myself at the karmic situation. What goes around, comes around! They had given me a free ticket to the Big Chill! It was not for this reason I was helping because I am one to forget my debts.
A super nice bunch they are. I met Franny Armstrong! Fortunately I resisted saying "nice to meet you!" I would have sounded very cheesy!
Twas not so easy what I had to do although it was easy what I had to do. First off post comments of those inspired by the film (I really, really, really want, need, must watch it!) Second off, help a few guys on the 'country pages'. Having not been part of the launch, global or national, this was hard so I only had to source press clippings. I was doing ok but just as I had to leave, really struggled to find anything in Germany! Damn damn for there were some as one of the guys emailed me some scans. Obviously lost some gifts from my own working days but it was good to help out....
Annie was working downstairs and me up so I didn't really get to see her but we decided she should come round to dinner one night as Christmas is coming and I'm away next weekend, she's away the one after.... We'll see if we can grab Issy and make a night of it, with beer and music!
I thought of the sponsorship Karma for the Big Walk too.
I posted the link on Facebook and emailed different groups with the link. A while ago, an anthropology friend hurled herself out of an aeroplane for charidee. Did I sponsor her? Did I????
She works with homeless people but of all people she was allowed not to sponsor me!!
What goes around does come around my friends!
Well, yeah! I'd made no plans post walk and she mentioned music and beer!
When I got to their offices in Camden I smiled to myself at the karmic situation. What goes around, comes around! They had given me a free ticket to the Big Chill! It was not for this reason I was helping because I am one to forget my debts.
A super nice bunch they are. I met Franny Armstrong! Fortunately I resisted saying "nice to meet you!" I would have sounded very cheesy!
Twas not so easy what I had to do although it was easy what I had to do. First off post comments of those inspired by the film (I really, really, really want, need, must watch it!) Second off, help a few guys on the 'country pages'. Having not been part of the launch, global or national, this was hard so I only had to source press clippings. I was doing ok but just as I had to leave, really struggled to find anything in Germany! Damn damn for there were some as one of the guys emailed me some scans. Obviously lost some gifts from my own working days but it was good to help out....
Annie was working downstairs and me up so I didn't really get to see her but we decided she should come round to dinner one night as Christmas is coming and I'm away next weekend, she's away the one after.... We'll see if we can grab Issy and make a night of it, with beer and music!
I thought of the sponsorship Karma for the Big Walk too.
I posted the link on Facebook and emailed different groups with the link. A while ago, an anthropology friend hurled herself out of an aeroplane for charidee. Did I sponsor her? Did I????
She works with homeless people but of all people she was allowed not to sponsor me!!
What goes around does come around my friends!
Wednesday, 9 September 2009
You agree with me don't you MJ?
On the newspaper front, I've been thinking that others can get in on the gig.
The Express: Quickly people, YOU can save this planet.
The Mirror: Look at yourself. You have the mind to change things.
The Independent: Don't look at what every one else is doing, do what you can.
The Daily Star: Wake up!
The People: Do you wish the end of the human race?
Not too hard to frighten people into action and say all they have to do is switch off lights when they exit a room and not to leave the tap running when they're cleaning their teeth.
The Telegraph wired some news that Michael Jackson was working on a climate change song just before he died (telegraph.co.uk, 27 Jun)
Not forgetting his Earth song of course.
You think it's a good idea don't you Michael?
Annie did get back to me. She's in New York, working on the global launch of Age of Stupid.
Are we stupid? NO WE AREN'T!
http://www.1010uk.org/
The Express: Quickly people, YOU can save this planet.
The Mirror: Look at yourself. You have the mind to change things.
The Independent: Don't look at what every one else is doing, do what you can.
The Daily Star: Wake up!
The People: Do you wish the end of the human race?
Not too hard to frighten people into action and say all they have to do is switch off lights when they exit a room and not to leave the tap running when they're cleaning their teeth.
The Telegraph wired some news that Michael Jackson was working on a climate change song just before he died (telegraph.co.uk, 27 Jun)
Not forgetting his Earth song of course.
You think it's a good idea don't you Michael?
Annie did get back to me. She's in New York, working on the global launch of Age of Stupid.
Are we stupid? NO WE AREN'T!
http://www.1010uk.org/
Tuesday, 8 September 2009
Climate campaign idea
Franny Armstrong ought to ask the Sun newspaper to get behind her 10:10 campaign to reduce carbon emissions if she hasn't done so already. I thought of this as I sat on the heath, sewing badges onto my son's Beavers top, on this hot hot 27 degrees day.
She already has the Guardian behind her, which is fantastic. The Sun has a different readership and also a larger one.
I love the symbolism of the titles:
The Guardian protects our environment while the Sun's energy reduces carbon emissions, both of them bringing about world wide climate change beginning here in our beautiful country.
I'll mention it to Annie, see what she says.
She already has the Guardian behind her, which is fantastic. The Sun has a different readership and also a larger one.
I love the symbolism of the titles:
The Guardian protects our environment while the Sun's energy reduces carbon emissions, both of them bringing about world wide climate change beginning here in our beautiful country.
I'll mention it to Annie, see what she says.
Wednesday, 2 September 2009
10:10
A simple idea to start saving the planet; cut carbon emissions by 10% by 2010. Brain child of the Age of Stupid director, Franny Armstrong (I think, my G2 copy got lost in the crowds yesterday)
I took my son to the Tate Modern yesterday where they were launching the concept. Annie and her lot had told me about it at the Big Chill and I thought it would be great to take along my boy. I texted some friends to see if they were interested in coming but none could make it. Then single dad Fletch texted and he said he'd come along, with a friend.
The launch was brilliant . The first thousand to sign up would get a glass of champagne. Mine got blown over by the wind. They were giving out 10:10 tags made from a recycled boeing 747 and they do look very cool.
There were speeches - Franny Armstrong is an empassioned speaker and very funny, honest, brave. If anyone could whip up the nation she could. Music from Stornoway and Reverend and the Makers (the Reverend was quite gorgeous must say), Sara Cox introducing it, all made for a fun afternoon (don't know what's up with me this morning, I can't write and my son wants my attention. I'll come back and edit. That's the beauty of blogging. Though will say you won't see my son in the picture in today's Guardian or on their website as he picked his moment to go to the loo just as the crowd were called up for their photo. I can't do website links on this, I am a luddite. Shame my son missed it. Everyone was given a piece of pink card to write their 10:10 wishes. My son had written "Save the bees, look after nature" on his.)
http://www.1010uk.org/
Sign up! Go on!!
I took my son to the Tate Modern yesterday where they were launching the concept. Annie and her lot had told me about it at the Big Chill and I thought it would be great to take along my boy. I texted some friends to see if they were interested in coming but none could make it. Then single dad Fletch texted and he said he'd come along, with a friend.
The launch was brilliant . The first thousand to sign up would get a glass of champagne. Mine got blown over by the wind. They were giving out 10:10 tags made from a recycled boeing 747 and they do look very cool.
There were speeches - Franny Armstrong is an empassioned speaker and very funny, honest, brave. If anyone could whip up the nation she could. Music from Stornoway and Reverend and the Makers (the Reverend was quite gorgeous must say), Sara Cox introducing it, all made for a fun afternoon (don't know what's up with me this morning, I can't write and my son wants my attention. I'll come back and edit. That's the beauty of blogging. Though will say you won't see my son in the picture in today's Guardian or on their website as he picked his moment to go to the loo just as the crowd were called up for their photo. I can't do website links on this, I am a luddite. Shame my son missed it. Everyone was given a piece of pink card to write their 10:10 wishes. My son had written "Save the bees, look after nature" on his.)
http://www.1010uk.org/
Sign up! Go on!!
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