Have A Happy Xmas

I was telling a friend recently about how to cheer yourself up when feeling low. I suggested listening to music, watching a favourite film or going for a walk. Then I ran across this website on http://www.care2.com/greenliving and though I would share it here. For some reason many people get depressed at Xmas, perhaps it's an overload of expecting too much; not helped by overeating, fizzy or alcoholic drinks, stressing about getting people the right presents and remembering to send cards.

Below is a quote from www.care2.com/greenliving/
"I asked some of my friends to tell me their happiness secrets because I love hearing from people how they enrich their lives. Here’s what they told me:

“I Call a Friend” Anita Thakur, 29, website owner Why it works: Chatting up with a pal fulfills the very human need to feel close, connected and intimate. Each time I share some good news with a friend, the joy doubles. When I’m sad, reaching out to a friend makes sure my misery is halved. How I make it happen: I’ve learned to say, ”let’s meet more often,” when I actually mean it. If it means a choice between some supposedly important chore and catching up with my best friend over coffee, I nearly always choose the latter, and I’m always glad I did.

“I Try to Stay Positive” Amita Dewan, 32, shopowner Why it works: Well, as they say, “at the end of the journey the pessimist might well turn out to be right, but at least the optimist has a more fun ride.” Luckily for me, I’m blessed with ‘happy genes.’ So, a few years ago, when I lost my purse in the middle of a crowded market, I refused to think it wouldn’t come back. Everyone scoffed, saying, “Nobody returns a free load of money,” (and my purse contained a load.) But guess what — someone actually called and returned it! How I make it happen: I practice replacing negative thoughts with positive ones. So, ‘I can’t’ and ‘it won’t’ become ‘I can’ and ‘It Will.’ Try it. Works every time!

“I Do Something” Sylvia, 49, homemaker Why it works: I believe studies show that action encourages ‘the happiness hormone,’ endorphins, to flow fast and easy. I’m no researcher, but I’ve seen that this is so true. When I’m feeling low, I clean out a cupboard, or roll out some pastry, or go out for a brisk walk. How I make it happen: I’ve learned to replace ‘mindless’ activity such as watching television or playing a video game with positive action: earlier, I used to let myself sink into the couch with a bag of chips, and that just made everything worse. Now, I can take most difficulties head on, because I make the right moves!

“I Do Nothing” Anand Srivastava, 55, businessman Why it works: Meditation or even just sitting in stillness for a while helps you tune out of your stresses and tune in to your pure consciousness, where there’s nothing but calm and happiness. I’ve discovered that my mind is clearer afterwards, which helps me make the right decisions, leading to more happiness."

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Bad Joke

Why is ok to call for executing strikers yet joke about a riot on facebook and get prison. Jeremy Clarkson was probably joking, but many were offended yet nothing is done.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hereford-worcester-16185152

A double standard seems to operate, in this and in many things. Instead of jail for fraud many MPs were let off with nothing.

Who Matters More To Cameron, People Or The City Of London

Caroline Lucas MP (Brighton Pavilion, Green) House of commons debate 12 Dec 11.

Given that it was precisely the City of London’s deregulated recklessness that did so much to exacerbate the impact of the financial crisis in this country, can the Prime Minister tell us why he persists in behaving as if the interests of the City were synonymous with the national interest, which they clearly are not?

David Cameron has still not introduced the promised regulations, he is largely financed by the city and so seems to put their interests first.

Camerons Euro Crisis

Cameron seems to be so scared of a referendum he has isolated the UK within Europe.
Some have pointed out that Europe has cut short the careers his most famous predecessor Thatcher, he has reason for fear.

I am no fan of the Euro, but he claimed to be supporting it, then wouldnt support a treaty that would increase financial clarity. And lets not forget its lack of regulations that got us into this financial mess, he appears to be opposed to any increase on regulations to his friends in the city.

Its difficult to see how he can achieve much in Europe in the future, he has become a uniting figure for the rest of Europe that are lined up to oppose him. Who would have thought he would make Gordon Brown look less bad, but I think he has achieved this. Even down to increasing spending on the Olympics while cutting sports facilities, his priorities are all wrong.

Financial analyst Max Keiser says "Crazy Cameron suicidal with knife in Euro gunfight"


Interesting to see how his actions are viewed in Europe, thanks to the Guardian.


Germany
Der Spiegel The man who said no to Europe
"British prime minister David Cameron has completely isolated his country on the European stage – and many in his country applaud him for it. But he will soon have to prove that London still has clout in the UK and that his no to fiscal union wasn't just a bone thrown to Eurosceptics."

Inside, a comment piece by Roland Nelles says: "The UK is standing petulantly alone, no longer wanting to play."

Die Welt The end of Britain's EU membership
"Beginning of the end of Britain's EU membership" is the headline on its main online story. It quotes the president elect of the European parliament, Martin Schulz, as saying: "I doubt whether Britain stays in the long term in the EU. Britain has never been isolated in the EU sun." He believes Eurosceptics will now seize it as an opportunity to force the UK out of the EU.

France
Le Monde: Great Britain isolated like never before
"Let's be fair: The British are nothing to do with the crisis of the euro. They bear no responsibility for the inability of the leaders of the area to solve their problems of sovereign debt. But there is a sense that the British are well away from a movement towards greater economic integration and budget. They are not. They do not believe in the European idea. They are unrelated to this project now well becalmed, but yet it seems more essential than ever to forge a singular entity that can exist as such among the other centres of power of the 21st century."

Spain
El País The cracking of Cameron gives wins to the Eurosceptics
"The crisis serves to weaken a prime minister who does not have the full support of his own party due to the rise of Eurosceptic sentiment and the perception that pragmatism has led Cameron to change the sidewalk. The fiasco of yesterday may mark his career. In the short term has become a hero in your party. A retreat would make him lose that halo."

Ireland
Irish Times Odds on Britain leaving the EU have shortened
"In the end, Cameron miscalculated", writes the paper's London correspondent Mark Hennessy. "Angela Merkel did not make the concessions he believed she would. But without a guarantee the financial transaction tax would be killed off. Cameron could not have come home – so he had no choice but to say no to the deal."

UK
Financial Times: Britain opts for the empty chair
"Forcing the eurozone to set up its own parallel union will not protect the City … By precipitately wielding his veto, Mr Cameron may well have hastened the formation of such a bloc, to the detriment of British interests."

Daily Telegraph Cameron stands as lone man of Europe

Daily Express: Britain close to EU exit

Ecological Internet

I was reading an email from Ecological Internet, and thought I would look up Dr Glen Barry. Apparently in 1993 Dr. Glen Barry invented blogging, defined as web based commentary, linking to other articles. Wow.

He also writes the Earth's oldest climate blog; since 2003.

In December of 2010, Dr. Barry was recognized as one of "25 Visionaries Who Are Changing Your World" by the Utne Reader.They described him as an "Eco-Rabble Rouser" and stated that as "an early political blogger, Barry has built a massive network for ecological change.

Just Hours To Save Us All

Please sign the petition along with half a million others.

http://www.avaaz.org/en/the_planet_is_dying/?cOuQiab

Mean Spirit, guest post from FoE

MP Offers No Support for Local Solar Businesses

Spirit Solar Managing Director Erica Robb is furious at the lack of interest shown by Reading West MP Alok Sharma in the appalling situation facing local solar panel companies as a result of the cuts in the Feed-in Tariff (FiT). The support payments for new installations were due to fall from April 2012 but now are to be slashed from 12th December.

The haste with which the cuts were introduced showed complete disregard for the effects on businesses, jobs, and prospective customers. When confronted about the cuts by Erica Robb, the Reading MP’s only response was to say if she didn’t like the government’s actions she should not vote for it in 2015.

Erica Robb, MD of the Portman Road, Reading, company said:

"It is frankly unbelievable that any government would be so irresponsible as to give a fledgling industry (that has created 39,000 jobs in a year or so) six weeks’ notice to accommodate such fundamental changes."

"We estimate our losses from the fiasco at £80,000. We have already had to make three people redundant. Some newer, smaller companies which had invested to meet expected sales before next April will have been hit much harder."

"We have a 14 week marketing pipeline. The government have no grasp of what it costs a business to be given 6 weeks’ notice to install a 10 week order book. We lost on higher stock costs, higher labour costs, and aborted marketing / technical assessment work for projects which couldn't be completed in the timescale."

She also commented that costs to the industry have fallen so prices can be reduced and solar power will still be economically viable for many people and businesses at the lower FiT rate. However the government’s reckless behaviour has completely undermined confidence in the industry. It will also undermine investor confidence in any subsidies that the government may propose in the future, whether for solar or for any other sector.

Friends of the Earth is taking the Government to court over the timescale of the consultation into the cuts which ends on 23rd December – eleven days after the cuts come into effect.

John Booth of Reading Friends of the Earth added:

"It is disgraceful for the government to cut the FiT before the end of their ‘consultation’ exercise. It should start again with a new twelve-week consultation on changes to take effect from April."

"We agree that the FiT rates should be reduced, but in a planned way that relies on evidence of reducing costs, not a series of stop-start lurches that are devastating to those trying to build businesses and create jobs in the industry."

The CBI has condemned the move as an "own goal" by Ministers.

climate march 2011

Not as big a turnout as before but The climate march is on again in London. Its my babies first March and she is loving the friendly atmosphere.

I suspect having it just days after the big pensions protest has meant some campaignrs couldnt go again.

Its always great to run into old friends and make new ones.
Update:
This is the end of the March, outside Parliament. People are queueing for some vegan curry, great stuff.