A UK Socialist's blog

UK ‘strikingly unprepared’ for impacts of climate crisis

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/mar/29/uk-strikingly-unprepared-impacts-climate-crisis

Government’s official advisers point to ‘lost decade’ in efforts to protect lives and livelihoods

The UK is “strikingly unprepared” for the impacts of the climate crisis, according to the Climate Change Committee (CCC), which said there had been a “lost decade” in efforts to adapt for the impacts of global heating.

The CCC, the government’s official climate adviser, said climate damages will inevitably intensify for decades to come. It has warned repeatedly of poor preparation in the past and said government action was now urgently needed to protect people and their homes and livelihoods.

The extreme heatwave in 2022, when temperatures surpassed 40C for the first time, was both an example and a warning, the CCC said. More than 3,000 people died early and 20% of hospital operations were cancelled at the peak of the heatwave, while rail lines buckled, wildfires raged and farmers struggled with drought. “It won’t be long before those kinds of very hot summers are a normal summer,” said Chris Stark, CCC chief executive.

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https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/mar/29/uk-strikingly-unprepared-impacts-climate-crisis

Continue ReadingUK ‘strikingly unprepared’ for impacts of climate crisis

Sky-high stress could cause NHS exodus

NHS sign

https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/b/sky-high%20stress-could-cause-nhs-exodus

MORE than three-quarters of NHS staff are considering quitting due to stress, burnout and anxiety, according to shocking figures published today.

A massive 78 per cent of the 2,500 NHS workers surveyed by campaign group Organise reported experiencing stress and over half (55 per cent) had taken time off because of stress, anxiety or burnout as the crisis in the NHS deepens, with 25 per cent staying away from work for more than a month.

Most NHS workers pointed to the impact that this was having on patient care, with over half saying that patients had experienced “medication errors, delays in procedures and a compromised quality of care.”

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Organise head Nat Whalley said: “NHS workers are exposing a ticking time bomb at the heart of our healthcare system.

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“We don’t need empty promises, we need tangible investment in the NHS that allow workers to thrive in their roles without suffering from stress, anxiety and burnout.

“Listen to us, invest in the well-being of our NHS workforce and ensure the future of the NHS.”

https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/b/sky-high%20stress-could-cause-nhs-exodus

Continue ReadingSky-high stress could cause NHS exodus

QEII Bridge climbers trial at Basildon Crown Court

Just Stop oil protesters scale QE2 Bridge at Dartford Crossing

Two Just Stop Oil supporters who climbed the QEII bridge last October are currently getting tried at Basildon Crown Court from Monday charged with public nuisance.

Marcus Decker and Morgan Trowland are appearing before Judge Collery after spending over 160 days in prison on remand for climbing the QEII bridge to demand that the government halt licensing and consents for the development of any new fossil-fuel projects in the UK.

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Starmer’s war on the Labour left is class war

Starmer, image stolen from da web

dizzy: An article discussing how Starmer is the other cheek on the Capitalist arse ;) I have no idea how such actions would be received, I hope that Corbyn seriously considers defecting to the Green Party.

Starmer’s war on the Labour left is class war

LABOUR’S national executive (NEC) is due to consider a motion in Keir Starmer’s name on Tuesday confirming that Jeremy Corbyn will not be endorsed as a candidate for the party at the next election.

Nobody will be surprised at this long-trailed development.

From Corbyn’s first, unjustifiable, suspension from the party in autumn 2020 and Starmer’s subsequent refusal to restore the whip once his membership status was reaffirmed by the NEC, the left has responded hesitantly and incoherently.

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It is impossible — as union leaders frequently point out — to address the the crisis in the NHS, the rigged energy market or the causes of disputes from mail to rail without looking at the longer-term causes in privatisation, marketisation and outsourcing.

Corbyn is being exorcised for having demonstrated how popular these solutions are.

If our movement is serious about changing this country and the rotten deal it forces on workers, Starmer’s attacks on Corbyn are not an unfortunate aside. They are part of the class war being waged against us.

Starmer’s war on the Labour left is class war

Continue ReadingStarmer’s war on the Labour left is class war

Tories to launch a greenwashing campaign next week

Rosebank decision expected at Tories’ net-zero launch in Aberdeen

THE UK Government will launch its net-zero strategy in Aberdeen next week, signalling plans to extend drilling for oil and gas.

The revamped Conservative proposals will see what was being referred to as “green day” by Whitehall staff rebranded to “energy security day”, with more of a focus on fossil fuels.

According to The Guardian, Thursday could see the Government confirm the licensing for a huge new oilfield named Rosebank off the coast of Shetland, using the argument that it is needed for investment in carbon capture and storage technology.

The proposals will also fail to bring in a 2025 flaring ban for oil and gas firms despite it being one of the 130 recommendations made by Tory MP Chris Skidmore earlier this year.

There will be no office for net zero – also one of Skidmore’s calls – and no compulsion for solar panels on new housing. Plans for a UK-wide programme of home insultation improvements, campaigned for by groups like Insulate Britain, will not be included.

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[and the BS continues … an expansion of oil and gas destroying the planet spun as it’s exact opposite.]

Rosebank decision expected at Tories’ net-zero launch in Aberdeen

Continue ReadingTories to launch a greenwashing campaign next week