What the papers said in the week ending 17 July 2121
Care:
Away from front page headlines we find that many people in this country are in difficulty: there are long waits for social care assessments when people need help now, there is fear that our government is planning to sell off the NHS piecemeal and is wrecking in in the process, families with more than two children are being pushed into poverty.
- At least 75,000 people in England wait six months for social care assessment | Social care | The Guardian
- Beware Tory plans to sell off the NHS | Letters | The Guardian
- Two-child benefits cap cuts support for over 1 million children during pandemic | Benefits | The Guardian
But maybe realistic plans to fund care will emerge: No 10 weighs up plan to fix UK social care system with tax rise | Older people | The Guardian
Covid-19 in this country – we are to be freed from restrictions which have been designed to keep us safe. For many the timing does not seem to be prudent:
- For many of us, ‘freedom day’ will be no such thing | Letters | The Guardian
- Tuesday briefing: Defences down against ‘exit wave’ | | The Guardian
- Doctors warn of ‘devastating consequences’ of lifting Covid rules in England | Coronavirus | The Guardian
- Boris Johnson’s deadly ‘freedom day’ gamble | Letters | The Guardian
- The Netherlands rue taking such action too soon: Covid-19: Dutch PM Rutte ‘sorry for easing restrictions too soon’ – BBC News
Data is now available which shows how dangerous and lethal covid-19 has been to people with Learning Disabilities, including Down’s syndrome People with learning disabilities in England ‘have eight times Covid death rate’ | Learning disability | The Guardian
Money
During the pandemic and lockdowns some people have become richer, others are poorer
The decision of our government to cut aid to other countries is a source of shame and anger
- UK wealth gap widens in pandemic as richest get £50,000 windfall | Business | The Guardian
- Outrage aimed at No 10 as MPs back £4bn cut to foreign aid budget | Foreign policy | The Guardian
- The figures show just how mean this foreign aid cut is | Letters | The Guardian
- Global philanthropists pledge £94m to cover UK foreign aid cuts | UK news | The Guardian
Environment:
Frightening extremes of weather – with heat in the USA and Canada, and floods in Europe – concentrate our thoughts and understanding that there are powerful forces even more devastating than infections – Calls for action are late
- American west stuck in cycle of ‘heat, drought and fire’, experts warn | Climate crisis in the American west | The Guardian
- London floods: ‘We had water gushing at us from all angles’ | London | The Guardian
- Wildfires tear through 1m acres in US west as 16,000 firefighters battle onslaught | Climate crisis in the American west | The Guardian
- ‘Catastrophic’ flooding hits western Germany leaving dozens dead – video report | World news | The Guardian
- Amazon rainforest now emitting more CO2 than it absorbs | Amazon rainforest | The Guardian
- Death toll exceeds 180 as Germany and Belgium hit by devastating floods | Germany | The Guardian
- EU’s green deal plans launched with ‘make-or-break decade’ warning | European Commission | The Guardian
- UK public should get ‘people’s dividend’ in drive to hit green targets | Environment | The Guardian
- Fairness and Opportunity | The Environmental Justice Commission (ippr.org)
- Regulate business to tackle climate crisis, urges Mark Carney | Climate change | The Guardian
- How data could save Earth from climate change | Climate change | The Guardian
Diet:
Lockdowns have seen people turn to the pleasure and comfort of chocolate and alcohol – not a healthy mix
- Hotel Chocolat subscriptions surge as Britons seek comfort from Covid | Food & drink industry | The Guardian
- Surge in alcohol-related deaths during England lockdown, report finds | Alcohol | The Guardian
A blueprint for a better future asks us to modify what we eat and drink. Done with sensitivity, this will surely be manageable Food strategy calls for £3bn sugar and salt tax to improve UK’s diet | Health policy | The Guardian
Some final reflections:
The Salvation Army makes unhappy headlines as it is accused of unfairness to long-serving officers Ex-officers direct anger at Salvation Army over pensions ‘injustice’ | UK news | The Guardian
An academic takes a moral stance and leaves Harvard out of principle: Cornel West accuses Harvard University of ‘spiritual bankruptcy’ | Books | The Guardian
We are encouraged to see that there are advantages in having smaller human populations: Why we should embrace population decline | Letters | The Guardian
Can we remember Windrush in a positive light? Windrush Monument: Final designs for Waterloo revealed – BBC News
After last week’s sensitivity to the phenomenon of depression and loneliness amongst older people, we are reminded that many find joy in our later years You’re never too old to find the joys in life | Letters | The Guardian
- For some this means study: Former solicitor, 96, believed to be UK’s oldest new graduate | Education | The Guardian
David Jolley
