Garden delight

 

Refugee Week

 

#wecannotwalkalone  #Refugeeweek2021 good launch zoom meeting this morning

Refugee week events  there are a number of online events and around covid restrictions some live events around the UK & London. Plus Europe and around the world ..I have booked for a zoom meeting in Lebanon refugee camp. 

V&A Refugee Week We cannot walk alone  

Greenwich Maritime Museum

London Museum a walk with Syrian refugee

Bradford for everyone Refugee Week

Coventry Welcomes

We are Singa Paris & Brussels

Family Link Up  my befriending project as no one should walk alone.

In dedication

Reading The Missing Sister in dedication to one of my favourite authors Lucinda Riley who has passed away this week ... Her brilliantly crafted stories helped me through lockdown and nights of sciatica pain.. Could escape in the world of her characters. 💟📚

Thank you amazing lady

 Beautiful farewell gift to an amazing lady that I hope one day I can meet in person though had opportunity to share zoom time with. Mme Bensouda has completed her term has the Chief Prosecutor in the International Criminal Court.. she has worked hard, though there is still an outstanding workload for her successor! Still some deluded despotic leaders and war criminals at large to bring to justice. But I am sure she will continue to heal the world from man made darkness.. 

droevig nieuws sad news

 

Sad to find this message in my twitterfeed. One of my favourite writers passed away. Her books have helped me through the lockdown with captivating stories. Dear Lucinda you helped so many with escapism into page turning stories and meeting amazing characters on those pages, sharing their challenges and feelings and adventure.. My granddaughter is studying creative writing and I gave her a copy of the Italian Girl .. my first introduction to Lucinda's work ..a totally beautifully crafted story that all creative writing schools should refer too. Its magical. 

COP26 pre read

 Yesterday evening I attended a zoom meeting with Medact Scotland discussing plans for COP26 UN Climate Change Conference hosted by UK in Glasgow for 1st -12th November this year.  It was a good meeting where clinicians are concerned over the health effects of Climate Change already being seen.

I decided to take a look at the COP26 explained pdf on the COP website with this challenge the PM on the 10 point plan cited and facts cited therein: COP26 

Lets take a closer look at the UKs leadership on climate p.11.

1. It is said that climate action can go hand in hand with economic growth. There is an inference that this has been happening between 1990-2019. 

So my challenge is to supply the data to support this claim. We have had a poor economy with job losses and austerity cutbacks. We have had inefficient & insufficient housing. There has been higher incidences of flooding with communities devastated by homes ruined and no insurance cover with incidence of floods. Urbanisation does not seem to have been planned with the impact on climate in mind. 

2. It states that we were the first major economy to put into law net zero carbon emissions by 2050. 

So my challenge is to define net zero carbon.

How will the UK achieve this? 

What are the plans for the interim period? 

What changes are going to be made to industries & communities? 

3. UK is the largest offshore wind energy in the world. 

I ask where is the data to support this claim. How are turbines manufactured and where? Are they totally Green. Why not wave kinetic energy given we are a collection if Isles surrounded by sea? 

4. We will end support of fossil fuel overseas.

My challenge what of our drilling off shore and our inshore fracking. 

5. Doubling finance to developing nations to £11.6bn over next 5yrs.

My challenge given the present debate on reducing international aid will this pledge be honoured? Can you provide data on the planned use? How will benefit nations and where? Can you #showusthespreadsheet? 

6. UK announce end of new petrol & diesel car sales by 2030.

My challenge what is the plan for the interim period and how will infrastructure be designed to new powered cars. What type of roads, how powered and charging stations. 

7. To spend £3bn climate funds on nature based solutions plant trees over 30,000 hectares. 

My question define and clarify nature based solutions. Where will the hectares of trees be planted. What of existing forest destruction in developing land projects. What nature based solutions planned for urban and inner city areas. can you #showusthespreadsheet? 

8. Announce plans that put farmers at the forefront of reversing environmental decline & tackling climate issues. 

My question How? What support will farmers get? 

9. UK to make climate disclosures mandatory across economy by 2025. Most required by 2023. 

Questions How will you ensure this? What will be the assessment measures & tools for this? Will this include NHS & Private care facilities, schools, universities, airports & other transportation hubs? 

10. It states that the UK provides 460,000 jobs in UK now. Ambition is for 2 million green jobs.

Question: please list and define the jobs in existence now. Also define the jobs for future?  Will those jobs be UK based or will they be part supported in EU? 

Can Zac define cleaner technology? How will you achieve the said goal of greener, safer more prosperous future? Will the prosperity benefit all both nationally & globally. The world citizens need life dignity. 

Acting quickly and developing resilence: what plans are in place for UK as High Tides and more coastal erosion is apparent on the British Isles. We are somewhat vulnerable in our geographical location! 

The GFANZ ..Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net zero has reported assets of $70 trillion. My question will students that show to excel in science, engineering and ecosystem awareness be awarded grants? We need sparky innovative people to be fast tracked into universities and companies with their solutions to problems. They need funding for Research & development of ideas that can be demonstrated to be viable inventions...with this good investments. 

As I was part  of a group of health professionals tackling health issues from the climate changes, I need to ask why was there no mention of poor health from climate pollution and extremes. Will there be resources for clinicians to help the sick from air pollution, extreme heat, extreme cold, flooding and the mental stress of climate crisis. 

There also seems to be no point plan on plastic pollution. This also needs addressing. 

Eurostar Metropolitan Magazine

 

I so miss going to Belgium on the Eurostar to see my Syrian family there that I befriend Family Link Up The bargain seats helped me make frequent visits before all the world turned upside down with the pandemic. I was booked to travel last year in March but lockdowns here and in Belgium upskittled that. If you have been following the story of my project I had intended to pick up the artwork we had submitted to the Royal Academy of Arts Summer Exhibition..but that got cancelled due to lockdown and Bushra's art was not selected for 2nd round of judging. We have submitted another piece of art for this year Summer Exhibition rescheduled for autumn. Royal Academy of Arts So I may have to fathom out how to get the work to London.. post or travel around restrictions & advice. I have had my 2 vaccinations..  but we must see. You can view Bushra's art on this link Bushra's Art Gallery...

Just been sat reading the Eurostar Metropolitan Magazine sent to me as a registered customer. I have found this interesting article on rooftop Beekeeping in Paris. 

I love the dual language reading of the magazine in English & French. It seems bee keeping became popular in the lockdown, though was already in existence as an Urban ecological hobby. It is interesting how there are observed differences in yield to the arrondissement where the rooftop hives are kept. It has led to more commitment to make more green spaces by the mayor. 

The expert bee keepers put on workshops to learn the art and skill. But I love this quote from Audric de Campeau: 

 "When you opening up an hive, you cannot be stressed. They feel it. You have to remain calm and centred" 

"Lorsque l'on ouvre une ruche, il ne faut pas être stressé sinon les abeilles le sentent. Il faut rester très calme, tres posé."

So in effect folk have been finding this relaxing and a form of attunement to nature. I think many of us found this need to connect with nature as the world went upside down in lockdown.

Refs: 

Happy culteur

Le Miel de Paris

The state of the worlds urban ecosystems  Prof. Phil Stephenson et al Kew Gardens