Even if you’re a Londoner, you probably didn’t notice that June 21st-29th was 'London Climate Action Week' (LCAW). The seventh city-wide festival of its kind aimed to “harness the unique power of London for global and local climate action” and “mobilise London’s unparalleled ecosystem of climate and non-climate organisations to accelerate global climate action”. Lots of “action”, you see. But rather than “harnessing” or “mobilising” anything, the event consisted of little more than talk among a very small choir that needed no more preaching. Meanwhile the rest of the city carried on, oblivious to the local and global action seemingly unfolding amongst them. This is green politics in a nutshell.
It is something of an irony that an extended political rally that intends to be the point at which 'action' is 'mobilised' drew together the organisations that immobilised the city. The city’s extended Ultra Low Emissions Zone, Low Traffic Neighbourhoods and a rash of cycle lanes – none of which were demanded by the city’s population who must suffer them – were sneakily imposed under cover of lockdowns. And they were designed and lobbied for by the constellation of ersatz 'civil society' organisations, which, as I’ve discussed here at length, are funded by a very narrow band of billionaire philanthropists.
One such philanthropic fund is billionaire hedge fund manager Sir Christopher Hohn’s Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF), which is a major “strategic partner” of the event. Each year Hohn, through CIFF, splurges more $200 million on green campaigning organisations,
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I have not been to London in over twenty yrs. an anyone tell me is it still filthy, congested and rundown?
Not so many cars but more bikes and scooters
Another great / scary piece by Ben. Keep up the good work, sir.
I spent the final weekend of LCAW watching classic motorcycles racing in Kent and burning through lots of fuel including some good old 2 stroke blue haze. And then watched copious amounts of avgas and jet fuel burnt by the aircraft at the Headcorn air show.
Net Zero is almost unbelievably foolish: unachievable, socially and economically disastrous and completely pointless. Yet, despite many voices pointing out its absurdity, our political masters are determined to foist this ruinous policy on the country.
They’re paid to do so. This probably causes them to become rather determined wrt going through whatever motions are demanded of them.
Here’s another one lauded in the New Scientist a couple of weeks ago. Anyone know much about them and the founders Greg Skinner and Suneil Setiya.
https://www.qc.foundation/
Amazing number of massive grants and a team dominated by females: only 5 men in a team of 31.
It is ironic that this climate action is all hot air.
😀😀😀