What the papers said in the week ending 30 October 2021
This week the crisis which has been building within the Church of England and other denominations has finally broken through to be subject of an editorial and a steam of concerned letters: whilst interest in spirituality remains high, involvement with formal religion has been falling systematically for decades – the decline has accelerated during these Covid-19 months. There are differences of opinion on what to do in the face of this – differences clear between ‘central office’ which favours closure of churches, and the laity – favouring retention of parish resources.
- The Guardian view on the Church of England: the numbers are not adding up | Editorial | The Guardian
- Parish churches have been living on a prayer | Letters | The Guardian
The concept of ‘Frail Churches’ was the subject of a recent Conference Call organised by Christians on Ageing
The climate crisis is receiving a lot of attention as we begin the COP 26 conference:
‘If we don’t act now it will be too late’, warns Johnson ahead of Cop26 | Cop26 | The Guardian
Some feel that it is possible gain control UK net zero plan achievable and affordable, say climate advisers | Climate Change Committee | The Guardian
But it is clear that the challenge is considerable and we cannot be reassured that there is sufficient commitment
- I chaired Cop21 when we delivered the Paris agreement. We must go further in Glasgow | Laurent Fabius | The Guardian
- World is failing to make changes needed to avoid climate breakdown, report finds | Climate crisis | The Guardian
The commitment of poorer countries will be decisive – but their room for change is questionable without additional support Poorer countries spend five times more on debt than climate crisis – report | Climate crisis | The Guardian
- Poorest countries to gain from new climate funding plan to break Cop26 impasse | Cop26 | The Guardian
- Cop26 will be whitest and most privileged ever, warn campaigners | Cop26 | The Guardian
The budget has had a mixed reception. Questions are asked about its transparency. While extra resource is promised for health and social care, older people will contribute to taxes. Monday briefing: Sunak accused of ‘smoke and mirors’ | | The Guardian
- Rishi Sunak offers spending now – and signals tax cuts later | Autumn budget 2021 | The Guardian
- Budget 2021: key points at a glance | Autumn budget 2021 | The Guardian
- Budget 2021: who wins and who loses? | Autumn budget 2021 | The Guardian
- Autumn budget 2021: where the money comes from and what it is spent on | Tax and spending | The Guardian
Covid-19 and the NHS
The UK is not showing the way in supporting other countries who are in need of vaccines UK falling behind most G7 countries in sharing Covid vaccines, figures show | Coronavirus | The Guardian
But Gordon Brown still urges practical and selfless help Gordon Brown urges rich countries to airlift surplus Covid vaccines to world’s poorest | Coronavirus | The Guardian
We learn more about persisting symptoms after recovery from an acute infection with Covid-19. ‘Parosmia’ leaves a distorted sense of small which drains people’s sense of wellbeing Fresh air or foul odour? How Covid can distort the sense of smell | Coronavirus | The Guardian
It is not covid – but the power of social distancing in combatting infections is reflected in the behaviour of bees Honeybees use social distancing when mites threaten hives – study | Bees | The Guardian. Even though we have vaccines, this tried and tested strategy has merit.
It is not all covid – but optimistic reassurances which come from politicians are contrasted with the lived experience of those actually providing health and social care: We aren’t yet into winter but pressure on the NHS is already unsustainable | Anonymous | The Guardian
Other matters:
We are discovering more of our past from excavations Archaeologists find ‘missing link’ in history of Fountains Abbey | Archaeology | The Guardian
- ‘Astounding’ Roman statues unearthed at Norman church ruins on route of HS2 | Archaeology | The Guardian
- ‘Rare find’: amphitheatre dig in Kent paints picture of Roman town | Roman Britain | The Guardian
Attention to the quality of life as death approaches remains in focus Allow us the option of a humane, painless death | Letters | The Guardian
This issue was the subject of presentations and discussions at the recent webinar organised by Christians on Ageing
There are claims that Artificial Intelligence is making progress possible – which had been undreamed of ‘Yeah, we’re spooked’: AI starting to have big real-world impact, says expert | Artificial intelligence (AI) | The Guardian
We have many stray cats UK has almost 250,000 urban stray cats, claims first detailed study | Cats | The Guardian
We have two generation families, life-long Boomerang boomers: the over-50s moving back in with their parents | Older people | The Guardian
The story of Penelope and David Jackson which gripped the headlines through last week has concluded with a finding of guilty of murder and 18 years in jail Penelope Jackson jailed for minimum of 18 years for husband’s murder | Crime | The Guardian
The Queen’s health remains a concern and other members of the Royal Family are taking on additional responsibilities The Queen advised to rest for two weeks, says Buckingham Palace | The Queen | The Guardian
A determined campaign to improve recognition and treatment of the health needs of older women is being sustained: The Guardian view on the menopause: standing up for older women | Editorial | The Guardian
More about Abba in their later lives: Super troupers! Abba on fame, divorce, ageing backwards – and why they’ve returned to rescue 2021 | Abba | The Guardian
And we have learned about aspects of the genius of Constable and Kafka which have hitherto been hidden from most of us:
- The volcanic, uncontrollable visions of a master reborn – Late Constable review | John Constable | The Guardian
- Franz Kafka drawings reveal ‘sunny’ side to bleak Bohemian novelist | Franz Kafka | The Guardian
David Jolley
