Whose purpose does this serve?

So a judge has found some scientific flaws in Al Gore's 'An inconvenient truth', casting doubt on how it's used in UK schools. The school governor and parent who brought the case is allegedly delighted. It made main headline news on the BBC's main evening news on Wednesday.

Whose purpose does it serve to take this through the courts? Surely good teachers and schools would use any film material critically and include discussion of values not just facts? What does this governor have to gain? Is he just making a point of principle about our Government dictating what's shown in schools? Or is he trying to suggest that science is somehow value free and that alternative ways of teaching about climate change would be so much better?

As an ex-teacher I think I'd have found Gore's film a very useful resource but it wouldn't be the only one I'd use. Doesn't this line of attack on such a film instead send out a message of reassurance to pupils that it's not as bad as was made out so it's OK for them to do nothing? Just about all resources used in school advocate one particular line or other and echo the values of those who've produced them. There's such an inertia in our society about taking action to positive effect rather than sitting on the fence and defending the status quo. There seems to me a good case for using material that provokes, which is what the Gore film seemed to me to do. Important that pupils learn about 'good science' but not at the expense of everything else and as if it's value free.

And why did this make headline news on the BBC?

Nuclear 'spin' from 1957

I spent my very early days in Seascale on England's northwest coast. We left just a few months before the 1957 October 10th fire, at the nearby Windscale nuclear reactor. Too early for me to remember but this association with place meant I was both fascinated and horrified to watch the BBC's documentary this week about events at that time. It was stated then that 'error of judgement' of workers at the site had led to the fire. But in practice it was they who put the fire out at considerable risk to themselves and in so doing averted a catastrophe that could have left that part of UK uninhabitable to this day. Political pressure to cut corners to keep up with the US in testing nuclear bombs sounds to have been the main contributor to the fire. The cover-up was an early example of political 'spin' - protecting those at the top. They passed the buck.....disgraceful! ....and to have to wait 50 years to set the record straight!?!?

The rut

We were in Woburn Park for a while today. The deer were all stirred up with many stags calling and very aware of each other and marking out their herds. It was a beautiful autumn day, a touch of mist with sun shining through and the colours were wonderful. All in all, quite an atmosphere.

Sitting on the fence

Greece in September...quite splendid!

Death, contribution, change and time.

Attending a neighbour's funeral today has me thinking about death, contributions people make, what changes and how time can get distorted. Nothing like big topics for a Monday morning! It's my belief that people live on in the hearts and minds of those who loved or appreciated them. I think Luciano Pavarotti who died last week will be with us in spirit for a very long time to come, he gave us something so very special and in his singing made a wonderful contribution to humanity.

But I will also remember Ron over the road with affection, for his good humour, courage and friendship. He too loved music. At 87, to me he's always been here since we moved to this area nearly 20 years ago. I heard much more about him at his funeral today - packed out with people - than I knew before. I heard he was born in the next village but one, attended the methodist church, played the violin, supported Luton at football, was a family man and enjoyed big family picnics, holidays in Scotland, his allotment and growing dahlias. We heard more about his working life in the area too and chillingly that he was among the first to go into Belsen after it was liberated, where he worked in a military hospital. He lived a full life and he too made his contribution to humanity in many ways and I've been very glad to have him and his family as neighbours.

I'm struck by the way the world appears to change when people die and time seems distorted. Death is inevitable but when people are alive it feels like they will always be there, even though I know at a rational level they won't. An important reminder not to take them or life itself for granted. Today I've been celebrating Ron's life with his family and friends. May he rest in peace.

Never again without paying for a Centre Parcs experience?

This was taken at Warren woods a couple of years ago - wonderful old beech hedgerow that has grown up to reach the sky. In future we won't get access to this place without paying out to go on a Centre Parcs holiday....which we won't be doing.