What the papers said in the week ending 30 September 2023
We worry about the environment, and our responsibilities for changes:
Perhaps we should not worry, or maybe we should: The Guardian view on the Rosebank oilfield: a symbol of Sunak’s cynicism | Editorial | The Guardian
- We have wind and rain: Storm Agnes brings 70mph gusts and heavy rain to Britain and Ireland | UK weather | The Guardian
- We have drought: Europe’s olive oil supply running out after drought – and the odd hailstorm | Extreme weather | The Guardian
- We have loss of ice: Swiss glaciers lose 10% of their volume in two years | Glaciers | The Guardian
But it is suggested it is not too late: ‘We’re not doomed yet’: climate scientist Michael Mann on our last chance to save human civilisation | Climate crisis | The Guardian
Some older people are pointing the way to a better future:
Gordon Brown says: How do we raise trillions of dollars to fight the climate crisis? The answer is staring us in the face | Gordon Brown | The Guardian
Ordinary people have a new work/leisure balance: Record number of over-50s in UK working part-time, ONS data shows | UK news | The Guardian
Super rich icons may leave their wealth to others: Mick Jagger hints at bequeathing back catalogue to charity instead of his children | Mick Jagger | The Guardian
Some are simply still physically outstanding in their 70s: ‘Quite a surprise’: Angela Rippon stuns viewers and experts with Strictly splits | Strictly Come Dancing | The Guardian
Some insights make things simply better:
Cleaner water – the biological way: Scientists use water fleas to filter pollutants out of wastewater | Pollution | The Guardian
And biology might conquer the threat of plastic: ‘We are just getting started’: the plastic-eating bacteria that could change the world | Plastics | The Guardian
Worms work their quiet miracles: Earthworms help produce as much grain as Russia, say researchers | Soil | The Guardian
More on music and dementia: The song that lifted the veil of dementia | Dementia | The Guardian
Things that are not so good:
As we head for prisons week, we have more revelations about the worrying state of the system: The state of prisons in England and Wales – in numbers | Prisons and probation | The Guardian
People suffer symptoms with no response from the NHS: Thousands with breathing problems undiagnosed due to lack of tests in England | NHS | The Guardian
There is talk of dropping inheritance tax. You get nothing if you do not fund necessary infrastructure: Will ditching inheritance tax make British society a fairer place? | Inheritance tax | The Guardian
- Is this a reassurance or a threat? No 10 denies plan to drop fuel payments to maintain pensions’ triple lock | Older people | The Guardian
Chocolate bars are getting smaller: Galaxy chocolate bars now 10% smaller amid ‘shrinkflation’ | Chocolate | The Guardian. This may be better for our health
Costs of mortgages are now making it impossible for young people to begin to buy a home: First-time buyers in UK drop by a fifth as higher mortgage costs bite | Housing market | The Guardian
There is a fashion for government to threaten fines on families where children do not attend school – or adults fail to attend appointments with doctors or dentists. But there are often very good reasons why: Poor public transport to blame for missed GP appointments | GPs | The Guardian
There are very good reasons why Councils are not delivering services we would wish them to: Councils ‘on their knees’ as they face record £3.5bn funding shortfall | Local government | The Guardian
You get nothing if you do not fund necessary infrastructure
You lose everything by one reckless action: Sycamore Gap: man, 60, arrested in connection with felled tree | UK news | The Guardian
Some more things for the better:
The dangers of dogs is being taken seriously: UK ban on American XL bully dogs boosts demand for muzzles | Dangerous dogs | The Guardian
Comfort food we have known over generations is celebrated: An egg-cellent snack that beats all others | Eggs | The Guardian
Traditional celebrations of wonders of horticulture are sustained: Stonehenge dahlia show celebrates largely forgotten Victorian tradition | Stonehenge | The Guardian
Art lives on and recognises its roots: Guernsey museum brings Renoir’s art to island that inspired him | Guernsey | The Guardian
We have lost:
Michael Gambon – but we can still enjoy all the roles he brought to us: Michael Gambon, star of Harry Potter and The Singing Detective, dies aged 82 | Michael Gambon | The Guardian
Stewart Cameron an inspiration in Medicine at Guy’s of the 1960s and beyond: Stewart Cameron obituary | Medical research | The Guardian
Pat Arrowsmith, who made us think: CND co-founder Pat Arrowsmith dies aged 93 | Protest | The Guardian
Churches find new ways to illuminate a dark world: Canterbury Cathedral lit up with spectacular light display | East London and West Essex Guardian Series (guardian-series.co.uk)
|
David Jolley Chair of Christians on Ageing in a personal capacity.
