The Department of Transport needs a major sort out if we‘re going to keep Britain moving.

I've always had my suspicions. With people like Melanie Philips (Daily Mail) believing climate change to be some sort of socialist conspiracy and the Sun describing environmentalists as 'green hippy lunatics' its easy to feel sceptical towards these papers when they talk about green issues. If one ever wanted proof though of the absurd lengths these papers will go to to stop action on climate change then go no further than this weeks private eye. It has an excellent story showing the amount of trash that came out of these papers preceding the heathrow protest. Read on and enjoy.

The controversy surrounding Shambo, the TB reactor bullock in the multi-faith Skanda Vale religious community raises a number of serious points including the public's willingness to get gooey over an individual (think Phoenix the calf during FMD for example), but to ignore collective suffering. However, an examination of the arguments must lead one to the conclusion that Shambo must die.

Friends of the Earth is hosting a screening of "An Inconvenient Truth" and a Q&A with Ken Livingstone on the 26th June at the Prince Charles Cinema.

Click here for details. 

I'm a (social) liberal democrat (don't let that put you off too much) and I don't usually post on this site (although I have my own blogging site at http://aradicalwrites.blogspot.com). However, some issues go beyond party lines and the environment should be one of them. The first obstacle of getting people to accept that there is a problem has been overcome, but finding a way to deal with it is going to be far more difficult.

Interesting announcement from Blair and Miliband happening now. They've rounded up the likes of Tesco, Sky, M&S and the insurer MORE TH>N to announce some pretty innovative stuff. Worth a look.

In a recent speech to SERA Hilary Benn has argued that the Labour party must put the environment at the heart of its renewal.

I have written this piece on The Guardian's Commentisfree site on how green taxes fail. I'd be grateful if you would take a look and let me know your thoughts.

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Between David Cameron's announcement of a "holiday tax", Lib Dem commitments to replace direct taxation with environmental levies and the government's doubling of air passenger duty from £5 to £10 in February, there is a tangible and welcome political will to take unpopular steps to curb environmental damage. Yet there seems to be a lack of understanding of the basic principle of environmental taxation: it doesn't work.

Speaker: Rt Hon Peter Hain MP

Date:  Tuesday 13th March 2007

Time: 6.30 - 8.00 pm

Venue: Conference Hall, Mary Sumner House, 24 Tufton Street, Westminster, London SW1P 3RB

RSVP: emma.burnell@sera.org.uk

The BBC is reporting that local governments are urging DEFRA to drop plans to introduce "pay-as-you-throw" type charging scheme on refuse. At present, I agree that it is a rubbish idea.

Has Blair gazumped Cameron again?