Christian Council on ageing

for older people and their life of faith and hope.

 

CHRISTIANS ON AGEING:  a resource to the Churches 

A VOICE FOR OLDER PEOPLE AND THEIR LIFE OF FAITH AND HOPE

  • Home
  • About us
    • More about us
    • Who’s Who?
    • Video
  • Being Older
    • Some facts
    • Health & Social Care
    • The Churches’ pastoral care
    • Spirituality
  • Resources
    • Bookshop
    • Publications
    • Our magazine
    • Older Prisoners
    • Prayers and Reflections
    • Helpful contacts
    • Ministry and Training
    • Ageing Issues Study Network
  • NEWS
  • Contact us
    • Support our work
  • Membership
    • About our Members
    • Join or Renew Membership
    • Conference Calls and Conference 2021
  • Speaking Out
  • Blog

Competence, coherence, consequences

10th August 2020 By

What the papers have said in the week ending August 8th

Covid 19 continues to dominate world and UK thinking. Its impact on the lives of older people is immense – for we are at the greatest risk of infection and death.

  • The over 50s have not been amused by reports that a government think tank has mused on the idea of lockdown for everyone over 50: Naturally it was only a rumour
  • https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/aug/03/isolating-over-50s-idea-covid-19
  • https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/millions-more-could-be-told-to-stay-at-home-and-shield-5w76wxlhs

The quality of government thinking and decision making has been called into question on many fronts:

  • Philip Barber, a Respiratory Physician in Manchester, calls it incoherent: he is bemused by a rule which allows him to go out for dinner (and receive a £10 voucher), but says he cannot visit his mother – and he and others have more to say https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/aug/02/an-incoherent-approach-to-controlling-covid-19
  • The question of contracts awarded to best friends, not well equipped to undertake the work of testing and tracing, exposed by Professor Pollock last week, is attacked by other specialists https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/aug/03/uk-virologists-criticise-handling-coronavirus-testing-contracts
  • There is grave concern that there will be more new cases – whether as a spike or wave, or just a continuation of where are now. Special concern is that other lives should not be sacrificed by diverting all resources to Covid-19 patients https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/aug/06/nhs-shutdown-risks-thousands-of-deaths-in-covid-19-second-wave

In this context it is reassuring to learn that NHS England is to spend £160m on new and safer cancer treatments which will not reduce immunity as much as current mainline drugs do: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2020/aug/03/nhs-england-spends-160m-on-new-covid-friendly-cancer-drugs

Covid Consequences:

  • Loss of visitors to the island of Lundy has taken away its revenue so that there are fears that the salvation of wildlife which followed a donation from Jack Hayward in 1969, will be crushed. Those hardy humans who have chosen to live on the island may be hard pushed to survive https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/aug/04/lockdown-puts-wildlife-conservation-on-devon-lundy-island-at-risk-coronavirus
  • Offices have remained empty. Many people and companies have found that working at home is acceptable and more productive, though the loss of the advantages from cross-pollination of ideas by random corridor and canteen meetings might mute creativity. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/aug/04/covid-reimagine-office-workplace-cubicles-hotdesking
  • Altered arrangements have stimulated more creativity in some quarters – women are showing the way https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/aug/02/the-guardian-view-on-lockdown-creativity-a-freedom-for-female-musicians
  • Recognition of the value of green spaces is releasing some money to fund three new parks in northern cities – though millions of pounds revenue have been lost from the maintenance budgets of existing parks through austerity deprivation of councils https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/aug/04/manchester-to-build-first-city-centre-park-in-100-years

Other matters:

  • The Pope has appointed six women to look after the finances of the Vatican https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/aug/06/pope-appoints-six-women-to-top-roles-on-vatican-council-in-progressive-step
  • The life of John Hume, politician and Nobel Peace Prize winner is celebrated: https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/aug/03/john-hume-obituary
  • Researchers from The University of Highlands and Islands have discovered a lost Viking canal system on Orkney – alerted by Old Norse place names relating to the sea and boats https://www.guardian-series.co.uk/news/national-news/18627947.ancient-viking-waterway-discovered-orkney/
  • Punch and Judy shows are returning to promenades: https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/aug/07/telly-just-isnt-the-same-glorious-return-of-english-seaside-entertainment-devon

A letter from Dr Anne Summers has clarified the origins of the phrase ‘Bob’s your uncle’, reflecting that cronyism is not a new invention of Boris Johnson’s government: Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, Prime Minister 1900, gathered a cabinet which included six members of his own family. Gascoyne-Cecil retired 1902 – giving way to his nephew Arthur Balfour. ‘Bob’s your uncle!’ https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/aug/04/want-a-peerage-bobs-your-uncle

John Clark, in a letter August 5th, picked up on the phrase ’in the velveteen breeches’ from a cricket report two days earlier. Where does this come from and what does it mean? A short but futile correspondence has followed. Google is no help

A further note continues recognition and thanks for the life of Tom Arie: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2020/aug/05/letter-tom-arie-obituary

Last word: Spitting Image is coming back – to set things right Johnson, Cummings and Prince Andrew among new Spitting Image puppets

 

David Jolley

 

Filed Under: NEWS

Adjust your text size:

Zoom in Regular Zoom out

Speaking Out

There are some things which just have to be said.  We have to speak out because at the heart of the Christian message is our belief that God is not silent.  God has spoken through creation itself and the evolving universe; through the human story; through the dwelling of Jesus Christ in time; through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in the Church and in each believer; through the inspiration of the scriptures; and through the wisdom and the teaching of the Church through the ages.

We use words all the time.  Words of welcome.  Words of wisdom.  Words of warmth.  Words of warning.  Words of wistfulness.  Our words are wasted if words are just words.   In the beginning was the Word.  And the Word was with God.  And the Word was God.  Through him all things came to be, not one thing had its being but through him.   The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. The Word made things happen.

As Christians, as followers of the Word, we do something about what we have heard.  Our own best words are our actions.

Please tell us what you would like us to Speak Out about by contacting:  info@ccoa.org.uk

 

Basket

News

The Jubilee might brighten the gloom

Troubling and shaming

Benches, buses and bills

The new Marco Polo

“I’m not really worth it any more”

A challenge for our country

Stressing times

A slow response to dire need

The fortunes of war and finance

Grim news on all fronts

More Posts from this Category

Reflect and Pray

Help me to journey beyond the familiar and into the unknown. Give me the faith to leave old ways and break fresh ground with you. Christ of the mysteries, I trust You to be stronger than each storm within me. I will trust in the darkness and know that my times, even now, are in your hand. Tune my spirit to the music of heaven, and somehow, make my obedience count for You.”

St Brendan the Navigator   484-577

Prayers and Reflections

Postal Address

Ms Barbara Stephens
Honorary Secretary
7, Southland Mews Park Road
Ryde PO33 2FQ

 

© Christians on Ageing
Registered Charity Number: 289463

Become a Member

Christians on Ageing relies on the income from the subscriptions of its members, sales of publications and donations. If you wish to support our work please consider becoming a member.

 

Twitter feed

Tweets by ccoageing

Sign up for Christians on Ageing Newsletter

We only send occasionally, and do not share your information with other organisations
* = required field

Copyright © 2022 Christian Council on Ageing · Managed WordPress hosting kindly provided by 34SP.com · Log in