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Too many pigs, too few lorries

30th August 2021 By GerryBurke

What the papers said in the week to 29 August 2021

A week in which the combined effects of Covid-19 and Brexit have produced conditions of shortages akin to wartime. There is scarcity of produce – and lack of manpower to harvest and to transport goods: UK food firms beg ministers to let them use prisoners to ease labour shortages | Food & drink industry | The Guardian

  • UK plunges towards supply chain crisis due to staff and transport disruption | Retail industry | The Guardian
  • Food industry proposes ‘Covid recovery visa’ after warnings of surplus pig cull | Farm animals | The Guardian
  • ‘The anxiety is off the scale’: UK farm sector worried by labour shortages | Business | The Guardian
  • Problems too in staffing care homes – but from a different twist of the Covid-19 story Volunteers may be required in staffing shortfall at English care homes | Care workers | The Guardian

And lack of little bottles for blood samples is leading to changes of practice which avoids all but the most necessary blood tests GPs and hospitals to limit blood tests in England due to bottle shortage | NHS | The Guardian

Concerns:

Relaxation of discipline is welcomed by many, but there is fear that it will encourage further infections with Covid-19. Spread is predominantly among younger people and deaths are now more common amongst younger people Covid claims 100 lives a day on average across the UK, statistics show | Coronavirus | The Guardian

  • UK braces for Covid surge as people head to bank holiday hotspots | Coronavirus | The Guardian
  • A return to pre-lockdown benefits will be difficult for the most vulnerable to live with Planned cut to universal credit could push more than 2m people into debt | Universal credit | The Guardian
  • Government spokesmen are keen to see fewer people dependent on benefits
  • Labour politicians are proposing a thorough review of the benefits system and a move toward greater equality Labour to pledge shake-up of universal credit as part of wider ‘new deal’ | Universal credit | The Guardian

A Children’s Society survey finds that 10-15 year olds in this country are more likely to be unhappy than ten years previously (6.8%), more likely to worry about their appearance and more worried at schools. What is sad for these young people is a worry for their parents and grandparents Number of UK children unhappy with their lives rises – report | Children | The Guardian

Studies involving 13,000 Londoners reveal an association between higher levels of Nitrogen Dioxide in the air and the prevalence of severe mental illness and hospitalisation for these diseases. Air pollution linked to more severe mental illness – study | Air pollution | The Guardian

LED lights have been touted as environmentally friendly but this is now contested: a number of people find symptoms are exacerbated by them LED streetlights are far from eco-friendly | Letters | The Guardian

  • LightAware – We need to talk about light

Another ‘greening’ policy which would see grass verges and more to be allowed to grow wild, is seen to have some undesirable consequences. Weeds in pavements may be trip hazards to people of any age. They are also unsightly and carry messages of neglect and carelessness Council accused of taking ‘rewilding’ too far as weeds take root in Brighton | Brighton | The Guardian

Golf courses are green, but they take up a lot of space and are used by only a small proportion of the population of towns and cities. Is this a good use of a precious resource? London golf courses could provide homes for 300,000 people, study says | Planning policy | The Guardian

When people in positions of authority and responsibility are accused of serious misconduct, the matter has to be dealt urgently and with care: in the case of Father Alan Griffin the Church of England has been found wanting C of E admits to failings over allegations against priest who took his own life | Anglicanism | The Guardian

Good news:

We have been diverted and inspired by accounts of athletic excellence in Tokyo Tokyo 2020 Paralympics briefing: GB’s gold rush and a TikTok star shines | Paralympics | The Guardian

  • Remember that taking part is what is most important

We remember the dedication of women objecting to nuclear warheads at Greenham Common forty years ago ‘We owe them a huge amount’: march to honour Greenham Common women | Greenham Common | The Guardian

The dreadful situation in Afghanistan has mobilised generous responses from ordinary people  Hundreds of Britons offer to host Afghan refugees after fall of Kabul | Refugees | The Guardian

‘Sleep on it’ has been wise advice for generations. Modern research supports the health-giving power of sleep – something now being recognised and acted on by firms keen to have their staff in the best of health ‘Sleep is venture capital’: employers wake up to benefits of a nap | Sleep | The Guardian

This week we have lost

Icons of pop culture:

  • Don Everly – a life in pictures | Music | The Guardian
  • Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts dies aged 80 | Charlie Watts | The Guardian

And sport: Ted Dexter obituary | Cricket | The Guardian

Extremes of weather may harvest a memorable autumn

Hopes of autumn glory as season arrives early in parts of southern England | Autumn | The Guardian

 

David Jolley

Filed Under: NEWS

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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

 

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Lead me from death to life, from falsehood to truth.  Lead me from despair to hope, from fear to trust.  Lead me from hope to love, from war to peace.  Let peace fill my heart, our world, our universe.

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