Head burying and tail ruffling

John Clark writes…

First published: February 2006 – Gazette & Herald

Putting your head in the sand and letting the wind ruffle your tail feathers may seem appealing but isn’t responsible. The conflict in Ryedale, the UK and the world is between the environment and the belief that ever increasing economic growth is good for all of us. The latest piece of head burying and tail ruffling came at a recent meeting of the Ryedale Council Policy and Resources Committee. Continue reading Ryeview – February 2006 →

You are being conned – let me explain

John Clark writes…

First published: January 2006 – Gazette & Herald

The public are being conned. Let me explain. Most people in the UK don’t want to eat GM food. Opposition was so strong that public pressure made the supermarkets withdraw all foods containing GM ingredients. Many local councils, including Ryedale, have supported the campaign against GM. Since then there has been a change. Have you noticed the silence? Continue reading Ryeview – January 2006 →

Time is running out

John Clark writes…

First published: December 2005 – Gazette & Herald

Mr Mainwaring! It is time to panic! I’m not looking forward to 2006. Time is running out and I need as much of 2005 as possible before we start squandering 2006.

In 2005 we have had a tornado destroying parts of Birmingham, Katrina and the incompetence of the Bush administration combined to make life intolerable for the people of New Orleans. The Gulf Stream has slowed down by over 30% in 12 years and climate change hits Ryedale in the form of severe flooding in Helmsley and surrounding villages. Continue reading Ryeview – December 2005 →

Our energy supplies are dwindling

John Clark writes…

First published: November 2005(2) – Gazette & Herald

I remember being told that nuclear energy was a massive advance for the human race. One of my memories from the fifties was the claim that the energy from one grain of wheat could light the whole of New York. The length of time is beyond my memory but even if only a few seconds it is still an impressive ‘fact’. Nuclear power would eventually produce electricity so cheaply that it would not be worth the cost of charging for it. This was another ‘fact’. The future of electricity production was positive, exciting and cheap. Continue reading Ryeview – November 2005 →

Let the young have a say

John Clark writes…

First published: November 2005 – Gazette & Herald

Parents struggle to understand teenagers. Teenagers don’t even try to understand their parents. The only fact that shines through is that the future of the world, Britain and Ryedale depends on two things: the decisions adults make today and how the youth of today sort out the planet they inherit tomorrow. Support for young people is therefore doubly important. Continue reading Ryeview – November 2005 →

These Party Conferences haven’t impressed me

John Clark writes…

First published: October 2005 – Gazette & Herald

“Nonsense” heckles an immigrant. Security guards forcibly evict him from the Labour Party Conference. A Good Samaritan tried to prevent them. He too was evicted. Later the octogenarian heckler with 50 years membership of the Labour Party and peace campaigning tried to return to the conference. His ‘identity card’ had been changed. The police then told him he was forbidden under the Section 44 of the 2000 Terrorism Act to enter the conference. Is this the ‘way of life’ the terrorists are trying to destroy? The next proposal is to give the police powers to ‘dish out’ fixed penalties. No doubt in future a heckler will be given an instant ASBO. Continue reading Ryeview – October 2005 →

Four legged stool is in danger of tipping over

John Clark writes…

First published: September 2005 – Gazette & Herald

Why is the government so stupid? Have members of the cabinet never milked cows? Have these VIP’s never sat on a three legged stool on a cobbled floor? I suppose most (all?) have not even watched let alone tried. However uneven the surface, a three legged stool sits firmly on the floor. Continue reading Ryeview – September 2005 →

I’ve been banned from Flamingoland!

John Clark writes…

First published: July 2005 – Gazette & Herald

We have questioned, debated, dug in our heels and generally the Liberals have been a thorn in the side of Ryedale District Council. The Council hasn’t liked it. We have been removed from committees and working parties because we don’t agree. Not very democratic but all part of life. The latest twist is bizarre. As a result of questioning RDC I have been ‘prohibited’ from Flamingo Land Zoo and Pleasure Island in Cleethorpes. Continue reading Ryeview – July 2005 →

Road charging is unfair on the poor

John Clark writes…

First published: June 2005 – Gazette & Herald

 I was struggling for a Ryeview subject when I was rescued by the Transport Secretary, Alastair Darling.He admits ‘Road charging’ hasn’t been tried elsewhere. He admits it will take 10 – 15 years to put in place. He thanks the Tories and the Liberal Democrats for not opposing it. There will be limited opposition because the main losers will be the poor. The second more relevant point is that road charging probably won’t happen. Continue reading Ryeview – June 2005 →

The crucial issues not on the agenda

John Clark writes…

First published: May 2005 – Gazette & Herald

What Britain needs is a General Election. No, not the excuse for democracy that we have just had. Not one where only one in five of the population got the government for which they voted. Not one where the whole time was spent throwing personal insults. Certainly not one that ignored the major issues facing Ryedale, Britain and the whole World. Continue reading Ryeview – May 2005 →