Taking Out The Trash

Green kite flying

The Observer reports today that:
"Police have warned of the growing threat of eco-terrorism after revealing they are investigating a group which has supporters who believe that reducing the Earth's population by four-fifths will help to protect the planet."
Apparently the police's National Extremism Tactical Co-ordination Unit is monitoring the environmental group Earth First!
This is the kind of story I expect to see in The Sunday Times, not The Observer.
It's based on one source, with a bit of background from the States and a rebutal quote from an EF member in the UK. It's pretty weak stuff but what it does show is that the state is ramping up its agenda on environmental campaigners.
This kind of kite flying suggests the ground is being prepared for a wider crackdown on eco-groups - no surprise since they have had some success in their anti-coal and anti-airport protests.
Once you start messing with the economic drivers you can expect a backlash.
Such groups in the US have already been on the receiving end of dirty tricks and some private sector spooks have been uncovered over here.
The joke bit in the article is that Earth First! are dangerous because they apparently believe in reducing the population of the planet to a more sustainable level. Well, so does the Optimum Population Trust - can we expect them to be monitored too?
Since one of their patrons is Sir Crispin Tickell GCMG KCVO, former UK Permanent Representative on the United Nations Security Council, one assumes not.

Sounds to come

The Daily Kos has this nice little list of phrases we may well hear in the weeks and months to come.

I particularly like:

"You're watching Alaska Cable Access Channel 2. Welcome to Hockey Talk with your host, Sarah Palin..."

election graphic

This is far better than the Vine's rubbish touch screen on the BBC.
To the point, if not in-depth.

factoid

Just learnt that Florida has two different time zones, thanks to expert on Radio 5.
Interesting.
More interesting that Dimbley's laboured public school quotes about each state. "I think it was John Adams that called Idaho the state which put the eye in potato."

election night part 28

Radio 5 along with Iain Dale and the Daily Kos on the web with BBC on the TV, me increasingly not doing any work as the election results roll in.
I'd like to get more on the senate and congressional races from the BBC (and the Jeremy Vine touch screen stuff is rather poor) coz it was ID that let me know that Liddy Dole might be losing.
Starting to warm up....

All politics is local

Below is my latest post on the Total Politics site. I understand the blogs there are to undergo a revamp so keep an eye on them.

Last week there was quite a detailed discussion in the school playground between parents on how accurate the America polls might be.

Who knew that the Bradley effect could become common currency rather than a psephological speciality?

We'll find out over the next 24 hours (providing there is no re-run of 2000). I’ve invited parents to drop in on the way to and from school on Wednesday morning to have a cookie or bagel and watch the fnial stages of the Presidential election.

Beyond the natural interest of this fascinating race should people in this little Wiltshire village really care?

Actually, it’s the primary school mums and dads who are most likely to be affected.

Half of the children at the village school are from service families. My daughter is used to making friends with children who stay for a year and then suddenly leave as their father is posted elsewhere.

And of course significant numbers have served or are serving in Iraq or Afghanistan.

Whichever of the candidates wins will have an impact on Britain’s role in those countries which will percolate down to our community.

One aspect of having so many service families is that it can play havoc with school budgets.

Every January there is a count of pupil numbers and based on that the school gets its funding. However, the MoD might move significant numbers of personnel around any time.

It could be good for the school if its numbers drop and so it has more funds per head. Or it could work the other way.

If you sign up for the forces then the unexpected is what, well, you expect. However it’s hardly an ideal way for a school to operate when its budget plans are subject to such an arbitrary snapshot.

Should we devise a different forumla for schools with a high proportion of service children?

Hail to the chief

I'm grateful to Utne for this election night drinking game.

It could be a long few hours as I combine some web and TV watching on the vote with catching up on work.

Obama wins (vote in east coast hamlet)

Not enough blogging in the last few days because of having to work for The Man.

I return with news courtesy of the Daily Kos of the first results from the 2008 Presidential election.

The New Hampshire hamlet of Dixville Notch (only in America, right?), population 75 has voted 15-6 in favour of Obama. That's pretty much a straight reverse of the 2004 result.