leicsmac

I guess a large part of the debate around NHS reform comes down to whether or not one views the life and health of a human being as more than the proper position of a full stop in an expenses spreadsheet.

It is a systemic problem that doesn't have a simple solution, yes. That and the (currently) abstract nature of it could perhaps explain why there's still nowhere near enough action taken regarding it.

I honestly don't know what the best way forward is on that one. In terms of causing damage to biodiversity, I reckon it certainly has the potential to be hugely damaging.

If the nature of reality really is that nasty, brutish and short, then fair enough. Speaking personally, I'm rather thinking as a species we can do better. Sigh - exhibit A for your case right there. How sadly pointless.

From what I glean, it wouldn't take long at all through more careful application of existing plastic mitigation strategies. In all honesty, I think the second line here is an excuse that should not be bought now and, should this and other problems result in catastrophe, certainly won't be bought by those who are left. "Our attention was elsewhere" isn't a great justifying line for the history books (if anyone is still thinking to write them), especially when everything about that "elsewhere" can and will sound incredibly petty and trivial compared to the magnitude of the problems that the Earth is going to give (and is already giving) our species.

https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2423957122 Our study presents a global assessment of microplastic pollution’s impact on food security. By analyzing a comprehensive dataset of 3,286 records, we quantify the reduction in photosynthesis caused by microplastics across various ecosystems. This reduction is estimated to cause an annual loss of 109.73 to 360.87 million metric tons (MT) for crop production and 1.05 to 24.33 MT for seafood production. By reducing current environmental microplastic levels by 13%, these losses could be mitigated by 14.26 to 46.91 MT in crops and 0.14 to 3.16 MT in seafood. These findings underscore the urgency for effective plastic mitigation strategies and provide insights for international researchers and policymakers to safeguard global food supplies in the face of the growing plastic crisis. And all the while people who think food "just happens" don't even stop to consider how the drop in biodiversity caused by this and other sources might affect them.

What @Bilo said, with the addendum that environment-conscious left wingers know very well that cutting into Teslas market share pales in comparison to other related policy decisions on the same issue.

The casual contempt the current US administration has towards a neighbouring nation that's been nothing but friendly to it is likewise utterly contemptuous. I hope Carney is tough enough to tell them to fvck off in every diplomatic way possible.

I think it is a mistake to assume that evidence and what the case actually is really matters here.

Yeah, but there's a reason states that call themselves civilised can't enact such things in the cause of punishment or sentencing anymore - because part of that pretence of civilisation is being civil even to the uncivilised. Again, don't get me wrong, I wouldn't get in anyone's way in this particular case, but it would rather put the lie to the idea the UK treats its criminals much better than places it sometimes looks down its nose at.

Unfortunately, since the start of his second term, the word "surely" has found itself stretched rather considerably. I hope I'm wrong, but I fear the legal and constitutional systems won't offer enough of a barrier to someone like him wanting to do as they wish and knowing the levers to pull on how. I remember this coming up on here re the Lucy Letby case(?) too. In principle I'm all for it, but in practice I'm not sure how you really compel a person to go somewhere they don't want to go short of beating them half to death or drugging them, and I'm not sure the state should have that power except in the most urgent cases of life threatening self defence.

You're right - it isn't always, but it is, and will be, often enough to cause issues and to let him mostly exercise his will over the legal system as well as everywhere else. That has been the plan all along, after all.

I do admire your faith in the system of checks and balances and that they would stop - or indeed are stopping - Trump or his supporters in much of a meaningful fashion at all. He has numerous loyalists within the legal system for exactly this purpose.

It is really unfortunate that the actions of Convict#47 are so bombastic and consequential that they're dominating the discussion, but what can you do? On the topic, powerful and accurate from Mr Hunt there. I doubt there's many that fit the description of a sociopath as well as Clifford does.

The accumulation and retention of more power over other people. By whatever means.

Right - even if the consequences of what the man and those around him do aren't intended, they're still real and are still hurting (and are going to hurt) a lot of decent people.

Whatever one thinks about China's form of governance (and there's a lot to think about), it's a matter of simple fact that they alone among the leading nations are looking to and acting for the future in anywhere near the manner necessary. Pretty much. And the big problems with that are that people around him can use and are using his bombast to carry out highly malicious acts for their own power, and any sufficiently advanced incompetence is indistinguishable from malice anyway.

Processing gold from its ore, in the main.

50% probability of lethal dose with anywhere between 4-15 mg/kg for a lot of complex organisms. So a 1kg fish or bird would only need to ingest a very small amount of it. Hopefully not much escapes and it can be contained.

Yeah, it's very astute. International white ball cricket really appears to be in a rut. Don't think they ever looked like losing, but they perhaps did make it harder than it needed to be, yeah.

When you're dealing with a power that apparently just sees you as a subordinate, dealing with that power is going to require you to be at the top of your game. I hope Carney can deliver - goodness knows it's long past time Convict#47 got a bloody nose from someone.

Yeah, this is a procession.

That should have been obvious the moment Trump won his second term (or even his first), in all honesty.

Can't see 252 being enough, but I guess we'll find out.

Spot on. This is a clash of worldviews that really surpasses international borders. And the stakes are high.