Thursday 15 October 2009

RIVER TRENT POISONED raises other questions

Trent Poisoning
"Partially treated sewage and cyanide were labelled as the two contaminants leaked into the Trent in Staffordshire earlier this month. It has transpired that over 30 miles of the river was polluted by the 200 million litre discharge on 4th October, killing thousands of fish and posing a risk to other animals for whom the river forms an integral part of their lives."

If we can't control something on our doorstep as serious as this, then how can we ever solve the problems that the Global Cooling and Global Warming camps are forecasting will happen?

The big problem, in my view, facing the people of Penkridge - and every other community in the world - is not whether the planet is warming or cooling. It is our increasing population and the provision of food for that population. In 1911 (according to the Census details which we now have), the population of Penkridge was 2,442. One hundred years later it now stands at 8,548 (2004 Estimate), i.e. an increase of 350%.

So two big questions - should we (and if so, how?) can/do we stop our population in Penkridge from growing any further and can/should we be growing more food LOCALLY (i.e. more sustainably) for 8,548 people? Individually, we can all do something about both these questions.

What are your views? Comment on here or on the Penkridge Community Forum. Is this something the "Lets Plan Penkridge" group should incorporate in their deliberations? Is there a role for Penkridge Parish Council? Should we perhaps set up a Co-operative to tackle growing our own food locally, working with the landowners/farmers in our Parish?

Friday 2 October 2009

Elephants, Rhinos, Lammergeiers, Cheetah - but not in Penkridge



Just returned from a trip of a lifetime. We joined "C" who has worked at a Research Station in the middle of an African Game Reserve for 3 years. We lived in a wooden bungalow in the middle of the Reserve for 2 weeks, driving around the Reserve each day. This is a White Rhino with a baby only a few days old. My first visit to Africa and my wife and I can't stop talking about the country, the animals, the birds, the snakes, the trees, the people, the problems, the opportunities, the poverty, the diversity, etc. etc. If you get a chance to visit then take it - you won't regret it. You may come back very concerned at some of the things you see but it is an experience you will always remember - and you will always remember Rhinos and Elephants, Cheetahs and Giraffes, Vultures and Eagles, Snakes and ghekkos, whales and pelicans, zebras and buffalo, Leopard and monkeys, Trogons, etc. etc.

Thomas Brassey back in Penkridge on his 204th birthday

Any Railway Enthusiasts in Penkridge (and I understand there are quite a few) will surely know the name THOMAS BRASSEY. He was the man who built our Railway Viaduct across the River Penk which brought the railway and its Station to Penkridge. Thomas Brassey was perhaps the world's finest Railway Engineer and our viaduct was his first job. He went on to build railways all over the world.

On Saturday 7 November, the Thomas Brassey Society will be holding a Luncheon in Penkridge at the Hatherton Country House Hotel (a short distance from the viaduct)to celebrate his 204th birthday. Anyone with an interest in Thomas Brassey would be welcome to attend. Please contact me by phone (712733) or by email: brassey@penkridge.org.uk and I will give you full details.

Newsman