Calling all Climate Campers..

For this blog entry I will start with a simple extract from the 'Random House Dictionary of Popular Proverbs and Sayings' by Gregory Y. Titelman

PEOPLE IN GLASS HOUSES SHOULDN'T THROW STONES - "Those who are vulnerable should not attack others. The proverb has been traced back to Geoffrey Chaucer's 'Troilus and Criseyde' (1385). George Herbert wrote in 1651: 'Whose house is of glass, must not throw stones at another.' This saying is first cited in the United States in 'William & Mary College Quarterly' (1710). Twenty-six later Benjamin Franklin wrote, 'Don't throw stones at your neighbors', if your own windows are glass.' 'To live in a glass house' is used as a figure of speech referring to vulnerability."

I think most of you will probably see where I am going...but in case you don't, I will go on. I have been a staunch supporter of action against climate change since I was a 13 year old putting up 'Boycott Esso' posters outside the petrol station across the road from school. So most people may see it as strange that I am having a go at the Climate Campers at Heathrow who are campaigning for the same thing. However, I believe there is such a thing as believing in the cause but not the means by which it is being promoted.

The fact is that many of the people I know who have run off to join the Climate Campers at Heathrow airport this week (and now extending to many airports around the country) have themselves indulged in one (or more) indulgent holidays themselves this summer. Now, I am not trying to have a go at those people, most people holiday in foreign climbs these days and the experience of travelling is one that I am starting to get a passion for myself and helps you gain perspective and encourages (well...sometimes) more tolerance and understanding of different cultures. However, the above proverb seems to ring loudly in my head when I question whether these people should really be standing up and preaching about the evils of aviation emissions. Perhaps a donation to the climate change project made over the internet whilst hanging one's environmental head in shame at the carbon footprint you have chalked up on your latest foreign retreat would be more appropriate.

The reason I am so bitter is maybe because I am a first time flyer! Yes people, I have been sheltered enough in my short life to have never flown anyway before, and have never ventured further than my family holidays to my beloved Cornwall or school trips to France on the ferry. As a result, I am rather nervous about getting on my first plane at the ripe old age of 20 and having a load of people hanging precariously around the runway from which I will be setting off. I agree that Heathrow should not be extended, and if that was the sole purpose of the demonstration and if it were guaranteed to remain peaceful and undisruptive to a girl whose aviation carbon footprint is ACTUALLY non-existent, then I would quieten down. However, after witnessing an interview with some burk on the TV in an idiotic 'i'm so ironic i like to wear my grandfather's cap and tweed shorts' claiming that 'all airports are going to suffer, you will be seeing more action like today' after another load of idiots lay down on the runways at Farnborough airport to stop the planes leaving, my feelings have been rather accentuated.

The matter of climate change is one that is, and continues to be, greatly highlighted in the media and I believe is now beginning to genuinely enter the consciousness of the British public. My dad, for example, never one to pay particular attention to the environment - although never purposefully harming it - has become a recycling fiend! I find people at work comparing how they are becoming more energy friendly by turning the lights off, people turning down bags at the checkout left, right and centre, and the rise in the number of green gas and electricity options are now showing that there is an increasing demand from the public to do more to prevent further damage. I know it is not yet enough. And I don't agree with the expansion of Heathrow, but I just can't believe that pissing off a load of holidaymakers by sitting on your arse in some camp for a week, or chaining yourselves to railings is going to make BA, Easyjet and all the other companies who, let's face it, run the show stand up and listen. They are only going to be more angry and is it affecting their profits? Of course it's not, and if we learnt anything from Rosa Parks back in 1955, it was that the way to get what we want is to hit profits.

So, campaign about the expansion of Heathrow, lobby important politicians, get people's support!! This move just seems to be one that is going to cause antagonism towards the movement and, as cynical as it sounds, seems to be yet another platform for snotty nosed teenagers/young adults to stand up and say 'Oh I'm such an environmentalist you know, when I got back from my holiday in the Maldives, to get to and from which I took four flights in total, I totally went to that Climate Camp to meet my other environmentalist buddies who also wear their grandad's hat as an ironic statement against globalisation and capitalism...' and this makes me angry. Have the bloody courage of your convictions and either holiday in Skegness or stop preaching to everyone else. I mean isn't this the whole argument? We are preaching to the developing world not to develop like us because they're going to do more to harm the planet - but that is the way we evolved and the developing world is not doing enough to change it, so how can we order less developed countries to do what we wouldn't and still now won't.

So I will pray that when I get on my flight to Heathrow, I will not be faced with a load of protestors lying on the runway while I take off on my first ever trip on an aeroplane. I am not a serial flyer, I am not a denier of climate change, I am just a person asking that it is ensured in future that these protests are actually hitting the people at the top, and not the people who will provide your greatest strength and support in the battles ahead.

My respect for Ricky grows...

I LOVE Desert Islands Discs. It is one of my favourite conversations to have: 'What would your Desert Islands Discs be?' And I tend to judge all celebrities on the relative strength of their choices. A particularly strong set that Caroline has brought to my attention is of the already much-admired comedian Ricky Gervais. I had already formed a good opinion of Ricky when I went to see him perform at the NIA earlier this year and during the intervals 'The Bends' was played in its entirity, the album Ricky himself said was the one album he could listen to everyday (although, strangely not his desert island record...)

Anyway Ricky did pick a Radiohead track, of course, which was Bones from the aforementioned album. His other choices are also particularly legendary - Bob Dylan, Cat Stevens, The Sex Pistols, Neil Young and David Bowie all appearing in my list of favourite acts of all time. The Sex Pistols my particular favourite when I'm in an angry mood, you cannot beat thrashing around the bedroom to some classic punk to relieve tension. Perhaps Ricky put them in for the same reason. Also, Willy Nelson is a stroke of genius as that is one of the best songs of all time.

This further affirms my belief that Ricky and I would probably get on pretty well if we happened to meet over a pint in a London bar. Here's hoping...

1. If You See Her Say Hello
Performer Bob Dylan
Composer Bob DylanCD
Title Blood on the Tracks
Track 8
Label COLUMBIARec No 5123502

2. Lilywhite
Performer Cat Stevens
Composer Cat Stevens
CD Title Mona Bone Jakon
Track 11
Label ISLANDRec No: IMCD267

3. Anarchy in the UK
Performer The Sex Pistols
Composer Jones/Cook/Matlock/Rotten
CD Title Never Mind the Bollocks, Here’s the Sex Pistols
Track 8
Label VIRGINRec No CDV2086

4. After The Gold Rush
Performer Neil Young
CD Title Neil Young: Decade
Track 14
Label REPRISERec No 7599-27233-2

5. Bones
Performer Radiohead
Composer Colin Greenwood/Jonny Greenwood/Ed O'Brien/Phil Selway/Thom Yorke
CD Title Radiohead: The Bends
Track 5
Label PARLOPHONERec No CDPC57372

6. Letter to Hermione
Performer David Bowie
Composer David Bowie
CD Title Space Oddity
Track 4
Label EMIRec No CDP7918352

7. Galveston
Performer Jimmy Webb
Composer Jimmy Webb
CD Title Ten Easy Pieces
Track 1
Label GUARDIAN Rec No 8528262

8. Always on My Mind
Performer Willie Nelson
Composer J Christopher/WC Thompson/M James
CD Title BBC RADIO 2 SONGS OF THE CENTURY
Track 4
Label GLOBAL TELEVISIONRec No RADCD119

Record: Lilywhite – Cat Stevens
Book: A coffee table book of art
Luxury: Vat of Novocaine - a non-addictive pain-killer

Farewell to the master of the Hacienda

Anthony Wilson, the man who founded Factory records and played a key part in the evolution of the famous Manchester music scene in the 80s, has died today aged just 57.

He was the man who brought us Joy Division, New Order and the Happy Mondays, as well as the infamous Hacienda nightclub, and so must be marked as one of those rare ambassadors of British musical talent who will be sorely missed.

It does not bear considering how the musical map would have been redefined if the man had not taken a chance on that small experimental band named Joy Division, and how without the Happy Mondays the Britpop revolution may never have happened and anthems such as Wonderwall, Common People and Bittersweet Symphony may have never graced our ears.

One thing is for certain though, with a legacy like that, your memory will live on in the hearts of fans of great British music for eternity.

If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it..

Sunning oneself and topping up the tan has become a British obsession. Undoubtedly this is because as Brits we don't receive much sunshine on this fair isle and when we do, it seems everyone immediately strips off to bare all in the glare of the sun, especially those older men that insist on walking around town with their shirts off when we really wish they wouldn't. This sun-loving mentality (as well as obviously the lure of more exotic locations) is what seems to be pulling increasing numbers of tourists to sunnier climbs on bargain basement airlines. But it was revealed in the news this week that the ease with which we can reach our warmer destinations is causing skin cancer figures to rise. I would debate that equally, the idiotic way in which people frequent tanning salons and rent out sunbeds is to blame for a rise in such figures. I understand that people want to look tanned, it makes you look healthier, more toned etc., but seriously is it worth the risk? As a traditional english rose type (pastey and proud), I fear skin cancer like the plague and feel we shouldn't be ignoring the fact that it is coming massively more prolific and should either bravely choose to stay our natural shade by slathering on the suncream, or indeed FAKE IT. I mean we cannot argue that there aren't enough fake tanning products in the market - the shelves of every Boots in the country are stacked with them right now. Don't get me wrong, the sun is good for you, vitamin D is ace for making you feel great BUT just be cautious and enjoy in moderation before possibly deadly melanomas, already up 40% in the past decade, become even more commonplace.

Oh, and I just found this entry on urbandictionary.com, it made me chuckle, if slightly depressing given the fact that I am a 'pastey' (although more like the first than the second, what with the not being a crackhead n all)....

pastey
being so white that you reflect light or temporarily blind people.
damn, her legs be so pastey that I have to wear UV sunglasses whenever I get within a 5 mile radius.
tags synonyms: pale whitey white albino; antonyms: tan fake bake
by hydrogenated e-over easy Dec 9, 2005 email it

pastey
usually a pale, skinny, long shaggy haired, crackhead.skin tone is very abnormal, looks high 24/7.
man thats your boyfriend? he looks like some pastey dude from upstate.

A comment on the former being that this is why we thank the lord for the current popularity of opaque tights - thank you Kate Nash.

...

'Music for a jaded generation'

hmmm, makes us all sound like a bunch of cynical pretentious idiots though........

Talk Show Host

I've been thinking about a name for my radio show for ages now and I still can't think of a decent one.

'No, THAT'S what I call music' is the best I have so far. A play on 'Now that's what I call music 0346830978' or whatever they're on by now...