Thanks to Mal James and the Space Daily Editorial Team and Space Daily for the Headline.
There are a lot of landed gentry in England and Wales , who do not want common people wandering over their lands, we also have a lot of bridleways, right of ways and also a protest group called Right to Roam who work to ensure the access that exists at the moment is not further reduced.
Scotland, however, has open access laws , similar to Finland and commonly known as the right to roam. This allows walking, running, cycling , horse-riding, wild camping, climbing and water sports like canoeing or wild swimming. The proviso is leave the land as you found it and do not invade people’s privacy.
Fishing and hunting is a bit more tricky, there are licenses for certain activities that need to be obtained. The shared expectation is that people experience the countryside without causing damage or disturbance. No off road vehicle racing or indeed snowmobiles which scar the land.
Ownership need not regard access as potentially damaging and the Countryside and it’s benefits should be accessible to all. In Finland (and Scotland) it seems to work well.
Increasingly, I am forced to think that Countries with Power can no longer afford the unpredictability of their Leaders actually being able to think independently or act on their own beliefs and moral compass. Perhaps AI has already entered the fray and it will only get worse not better.
In the UK we have just had “Keir Starmer” replaced by ” Andy Burnham”. No election Andy ousted Keir in a drawn out process involving an election at a “safe” seat, resigning as Mayor of Manchester and then being appointed without contest , simply because he was Andy Burnham ( The man from the North). Democracy in action. No election just appointments.
Now Keir was born and bred to be the Labour Leader. Tony Blair was his progenitor, Blair was not perfectly formed although he talked like a robot and he certainly blazed a trail and showed those in control what could be achieved. Unfortunately his ego took over and it’s quite possible he began to believe he was in power because he was “Tony”. This did not suit the powers that be and he needed to be replaced.
Working as a Lawyer seems to be the chosen profession for “Leaders”, no need for a moral compass with that particular career. Enter baby Keir, whose father ran a toolmaking business and who chose to name his child after “Keir ” after Keir Hardie , the founder of the Labour Party.
I never thought Starmer was the brightest tool in the Political Toolbox, and always felt he was a fair weather politician who would agree to anything , partly because he didn’t understand the argument and also because he knew he was a puppet.
He protected Peter Mandleson ( The Black Knight of the Labour Party) and it led to his downfall. Starmer appointed Mandleson to be US Ambassador, despite many questions about his suitability and then argued the case that he was not given a full briefing on Mandleson’s status.
“Sorry my Lawd, I didn’t read the brief” ( an excerpt from one of Starmer’s early Court appearances).
“That’s alright , young Starmer, you’ll do better next time!” says Judge who is part of the Establishment.
Andy Burnham is no better, he likes to portray himself as a man for the northern people, but he has been chosen by those who decided on Blair and Starmer and Bandenoch. They are all middle class achievers with big mortgages and big aspirations.
America is no better, why Trump a lot of people hold their hands up and cry? Two words “The Apprentice” if he hadn’t been on that television programme then all of this would not have happened. He was chosen to be President and given the position to lead the Republicans even though he had never been a Republican and there were far better candidates. Thank heavens Alan Sugar ( the UK Apprentice ) retired to Monaco and didn’t want the hassle of becoming Prime Minister.
In other words it’s almost like The US and The UK have a cartoon strip of Political Leaders who were appointed by others and the electorate were given no choice. Selection not Election.
Thanks to Awogbemila Temitope and Business Insider Africa for the Headline.
South American Columbia has embroiled itself in Middle East Politics by recognising Israel’s sovereignty over the Golan Heights.
The United Nations consensus is that the Golan Heights are Syrian territory and as such are under occupation.
Columbia’s decision under President President Abelardo de la Espriella means that consensus is under threat.
Egypt (presumably according to the Headline) Africa’s strongest military force has warned that Colombia’s stance threatens regional stability and undermines peace and the UN Charter.
Colombia has also supported Morocco’s claim for sovereignty over the Western Sahara.
It seems that Colombia is trying to gain an economic advantage in the middle East and African Continent by supporting these claims. Given the inherent instability of the Colombian Economy and their reputation for Drug Cartels, I would hope that the business they wish to promote are beneficial to all parties and doesn’t do harm, even if it helps their balance of payments.
Thanks to Milena Wălde and Politico for the Headline
The Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš went for a hike in the beautiful National Park in eastern Czechia which encompasses a mountain called the Lysá Hora. He picked a few flowers on his way up and tucked them into his rucksack and laid them at the monument at the summit to remember a colleague who had sadly died. They both had previously completed the mountain hike together, so it was a mark of respect for his deceased colleague.
Sad to say, this reached the press and PM Andrj Babiš explained his reasoning , however, he did offer to pay any fine attached to the misdemeanor.
Interestingly enough the National Park Officials said that no harm had been done as the species of flower that was picked was common.
This is fair enough , but as a general rule it’s probably best not to pick any wildflowers in National Parks, though I appreciate PM Babiš offer to pay the fine, perhaps to discourage others from picking wildflowers willy nilly.
There are pressures upon us that seek to define our achievements based on parameters set by others. Even toddlers have milestones. They are up and walking very early or” my aren’t they walking yet?” ” Little Johnny isn’t sitting very well, he doesn’t seem to lift himself when he crawls”.
We worry sometimes with good reason and in the vast majority of cases we just have to accept for most will do everything in their own good time with the right guidance.
I don’t believe in adult-hood; being an adult is a badge but we can all still behave like children, sometimes it’s funny , sometimes it’s incredibly annoying.
Some want their children to grow up too fast, some don’t want their children to grow up at all.
There is nothing glamorous about getting a job, paying rent, paying bills , paying , paying, paying. Some do it with aplomb, some every day is a crisis and some well they just don’t think it’s a good way to live and step off the ladder when they can.
Whatever, we all know childhood is precious and no I don’t think we need to admire adulthood or particularly aim to gain that particular badge. Take responsibility , well children can do that, count, design, work with others, play with others. Perhaps we should just throw away the badge.
Asquith Xavier will be forever remembered for standing up for his right to apply and get a job as a Railway Guard at Euston Station. He was first told on applying that there was a colour ban and he could not be appointed to work at Euston Station. This was in 1966.
Thankfully along with his Union he was successful in getting the decision overturned and he was appointed as the first Black Railway Guard to work at Euston Railway Station in London.
He was a modest man and despite the media turning up on his doorstep and wanting interviews, he maintained his goal was to look after his family the best he could by progressing in his chosen work.
The house where he lived at the time , now has a blue plaque commemorating him and reminding people that he stood up for his rights and the rights of others. This is truly inspirational.
Thanks to Kris Annapurna and Explorers Web Online for the Headline.
What an interesting situation, we’re not talking about snow in the Alps , we’re talking about the severe heatwave we’ve been having and the drought which has increased the likelihood of rock falls particularly on the most popular route up to Mont Blanc.
The Mayor of St Gervais , ordered the closure of the two refuges on Mont Blanc in order to discourage people from making the attempt. However, despite guides requesting climbers to return without summiting some persisted with their climb. To do this they had to cross an area called the Couloir du Gouter which is the area most prone to Rockfalls and therefore dangerous to cross.
Thirty two climbers decided to climb up to the refuge and stay overnight, they then asked for a free helicopter rescue in order to get back down the mountain. This was refused and the climbers were told that conditions had changed and that now they could make the descent and cross the Couloir du Gouter or alternatively they could pay for a private helicopter to rescue them.
I’m afraid these mountains are just getting too busy and it is very much the elite who can pay for Private Helicopters, not to mention the expense to the Public of financing a Mountain Rescue Helicopter which some think can be ordered like a taxi.
Apparently, the closing of the two refuges and the existing ban on camping and bivouacking has effectively closed the most popular approach to Mont Blanc , which hopefully will give Nature a break from the tred of human walking boots.
Taxi
Namaste and Thank You for Reading.🙏
And here is my short on You Tube(unfortunately it cut off the end)Technology Fail.
thenotsomightyom 