Archive for December, 2007
A natural end
posted by Cptn
Ah, New Year’s Eve, and if you take a stroll in the green and pleasant countryside, bear in mind that today’s the last day of Discover Devon Naturally.
The award winning tourism project is at the end of its three-year cycle, which has, according to Devon County Council, generated £13 million of visitor spend, created 193 jobs and safeguarded 323. Oh, and there’s that small matter of sustainable and green tourism. Apparently, Devon has more ‘green tourism business than anywhere else in England’.
The website will carry on and the chillingly named ‘Destination Devon Ltd’ (note the ‘Ltd’) will ‘take forward the achievements of Discover Devon Naturally in 2008′ doncha just love committee speak.
December 31st, 2007
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Music and movie making abound, and when the two combine we become really happy. That’s why we had a smile on our collectivised faces when D+CFilm plonked up the latest words and pictures from the spookily astounding Weaver Twins song Ugly Children. Click on the link to see them in action, and tune in as often as in humanly for more of the same.
December 30th, 2007
Posted by Cptn
If you’re still feeling full of Christmas cheer then you’ve got a few more days to check out the ‘musical disasterpiece’ that was the Chrimbo collaboration between Supenik and Le Chat Noir.
But be quick, this tune will only stay up on the until New Year’s Day. And you never know, you might also find the rockin’ soundtrack to your New Year’s Eve.
December 29th, 2007
Retrograde MP
Posted by Cptn
Poor old Anthony Steen MP, bad judgement seems to follow him around. We still haven’t forgotten him parking in the disabled bay at Newton Abbot station – there are too many disabled bays around anyway, ehh Anthony?
Back in November the MP, who seems to suffer from the ‘foot in mouth’ disease, commented on affordable housing in the context of ‘the return to council housing’ saying that the estates were ‘hotbeds of crime’ and calling the plans a ‘retrograde step’. And it was only last week that Wolverhampton North East MP, Ken Purchase, called on Parliament to condemn Steen’s comments.
Well, the MP does represent Totnes, so he probably didn’t mean it nasty.
December 28th, 2007
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Fuel for thought
Posted by Cptn
No sooner is an alternative to fossil fuels developed than all the nay sayers ooze out of the strata. Biofuels have been linked to increasing food prices, deforestation, destruction of peat bogs, and possibly even body odour.
But the good ole Department of Transport (not only there for building roads) has come out with a paper that puts the whole biofuel issue into context, it explains the five per cent target for road transport fuel by 2010, and so on and so forth. It even considers the impact biofuel can make on carbon reduction, to name but one.
Download the pdf pamphlet, Biofuels - risks and opportunities, I mean what else have you got to talk about at the New Year’s Eve party?
December 27th, 2007
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Foxing Day
Posted by Cptn
Hunting has yet again hit the headlines. More people are interested in the legal aspects of it, yet there’s a hardcore intent on killing things. Check out the contradiction in the statements from Jill Grieve, spokesman for The Countryside Alliance (or UKIP in Wellies) in this .
Seems these people want the countryside to self-destruct through their self-regarding, self-congratulating embittered clique.
Get in touch with the League Against Cruel Sport for more details of how to get involved and if the rumours are true.
December 26th, 2007
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Christmas message
People of the Republic, listen up to your very own Christmas message, this year bought to you by Nigel Costly of the South West TUC.
“Merry Christmas to the people of South Devon from the people who brought you the weekend and now guaranteed Christmas Holiday pay.
Believe it or not this will be the first year when all workers are entitled to be paid for Christmas Day, Boxing Day and the New Year holiday and not have the days deducted from their annual holiday entitlement.
This is as a result of long campaigning by trade unions in the UK and across Europe.
Scrooge employers who used to count bank holidays as part of the minimum four weeks annual holiday entitlement cannot do that any more starting with this Christmas.
So for a few workers who get screwed by working for a crap boss may enjoy a little more Christmas cheer this year.
Best wishes
Nigel”
December 25th, 2007
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Recycled wealth
Posted by Cptn
Maybe you don’t want to hear about recycling after lugging all those bags and boxes around, and wrapping up all those boxes, but then again you might get some comfort that Devon has passed the 50 percent recycling rate.
The percentage of rubbish recycled in the Devon County Council area is now 50.5 per cent, according to the latest figures for April to September. That is an increase from 45.6 per cent last year, and well above the national average of 30.9 per cent.
Devon is among the top three counties in the country (which we took to be third), and not unsurprising from a Devon County Council press release the success down to projects such as the award winning “Don’t let Devon go to waste” campaign, improvements to the recycling centres across the county and improved recycling schemes operated by the District Councils.
The best recycling areas in Devon are Teignbridge with 60.4 per cent (55.34 per cent not including Devon County Council’s recycling centres), South Hams 59.04 per cent (57.06 per cent without DCC’s recycling centres) and Mid Devon 53.35 per cent (49.69 per cent without DCC’s recycling centres).
So, rest assured that during this Christmas period you’re not only having a positive impact on the economy, but by shunting it all off to the right sort of bin, that you’ll soon be making a positive impact on recycling rates. Everyones’ a winner!
December 24th, 2007
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Posted by Cptn
We all know that Coke sorted out the colour scheme for Santa all those years ago – St Nic traditionally prefering green garb, till the fat man sold out. But what else has this world-wide fizzy drink company been up to? There’s a clue in this short animation from citizens of the republic Jimmy and Simon Cauty. This film has been used as part of Mark Thomas‘ touring show.
December 23rd, 2007
Tally ho, ho, ho
If your blood lust hasn’t been satisfied with the heaps of dead meat that’s piled around this time of year, then check out The League against Cruel Sports, and see if you can hunt the hunters. It’s bags more fun than chasing a small fox with loads of hounds and fellas on horses. But don’t be fooled, the fella in the red coat aint no Santa?
December 22nd, 2007
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