Benefits from a Recession

They say it's an ill wind that blows nobody any good. The EU has reported the recent recession saw greenhouse gas emissions drop by a record 7.2 percent; however, how low they'll stay as the EU recovers is another matter.

Conspicuous consumption and obscene wastage have slowed dramatically in the face of the recession. Experts believe that a number of factors have contributed to this remarkable fall, including a shift in public attitudes away from wasteful living; a drop in the amount of white goods, such as washing machines and TVs, being thrown out; and a fall in construction waste, as the recession affects the number of building projects.

As food waste directly affects food supply and demand and consequently food prices, reduction in food waste has the power to have a strong effect on food price levels. As our income is reduced, we waste less food, which then helps to bring demand down, which helps to reduce costs.

More good news comes from a study into the Earth's recovery from a prehistoric global warming event when atmospheric carbon dioxide levels were high has found that the Earth bounced back far faster than previously thought. However, that news still isn't good for humanity as the period was still 30,000 to 40,000 years.



Glastonbury Mud Miracle

Just returned from Glastonbury Festival and it was another muddy one. Over 200,000 people traipsing over soggy ground creates a very sticky morass.

Anyway, while seeking some late night sustenance my foot actually stuck fast and I tipped forward, putting my hand down to the ground to steady myself. Up it came, covered in brown gloop. To clean it off (hand wash facilities are quite sparse) I headed to a wire fence and used this to scrape myself clean. With an ominous clink my wedding ring flew off, in the dark, through the fence, into the undergrowth.

After about 20 minutes scrabbling in the dark, with my hand under the fence, getting covered in nettle stings, I decided to give up. Luckily I had the presence of mind to line up the fence with a noodle stall and another one selling Moroccan tagines.

Back at camp there was a lot of shaking of heads and expressions of hope that my wife would take the news well.  

The next day I set off to find the fence again. Despite a half mile walk I was able to spot the same two food stands. And yes there was the fence, which still had mud hanging where I had been scraping it off. I managed to jump into the enclosed area (a water course) a bit further round and then back to opposite where I had been standing the previous night. Ten minutes of scraping through mud and nettles, there by a miracle, was my ring.

I phoned my wife excitedly to say that I had found my wedding ring, which was the first she new of the matter. Well, I had to have found it first.