The most disgusting crossword clue i’ve seen

I was undertaking the Guardian quick crossword this afternoon (of course i read the Guardian, i’m an environmentalist) when i reached the following clue for 16 down:

Wound crust (4)

Yum.

Hmmm

So i met Miliband the other day, got all excited about his views on protecting our coastal environment, and now Brown has made him the bloody foreign secretary! Gah!

Google search terms

People who have been referred to this blog by google have searched for the following things:

1)Why do environmentalists lie?

2)What do environmentalists think about pollution?

3)Why is tuna dolphin-friendly?

 The mind boggles.

Exciting things afoot…

I will be attending a coastal climate change conference on Friday.

The environment minister will be there, as well as scientists from the IPCC and other important people.

Watch this space for a full report!

In other news, i am now fully qualified to talk about these things!

I don’t really want my kettle boiled by radioactivity, thankyou muchly

Despite having my head buried in a book about Integrated Coastal Zone Management (why did i pick that module? It sounded ‘exotic’), it has come to my attention that the government has published their latest Energy White Paper. I had just enough time between revision breaks to get a little bit peeved. (only a little, because i’d wasted a lot of time deciding between a penguin bar or a hobnob. Tough call)

I can understand why the government is concerned about security of supply, as i believe not many people abroad like us at the moment. Oh yes, i know about these things because i watched Eurovision.

I just don’t think nuclear power is a good idea. First of all, Wales and Scotland would not allow any more to be built in their regions, so all the stations would be in the South of England. Bearing in mind the long term nature of radioactivity, i don’t think placing these sites in an area that would be first to go underwater with global sea level change is particularly bright. But hey, that’s just me.

Secondly, whilst renewables are generally a GOOD THING, they have to be the right sort to provide a net benefit. A barrage across the Severn would not, in my opinion be a net benefit. Placing such a massive piece of hard engineering in such a unique environment is not good, especially when tidal turbines (a bit like upside-down wind turbines) could produce a huge amount of power and not dramatically change the landscape.

The barrage scheme makes me think of those unsuccessful sea-defence systems on the East coast. The government has now realised that it is better to work with nature, not against it, and let the marshes grow back. I think a huge barrage scheme, whilst harnessing ‘clean’ energy, would be working against nature, and it is a battle the barrage would eventually lose.