How much the price of surveilance?

Picture courtesy of Robert Brook

So we got all these cameras and elecronic devices like traffic ligts requireing energy being installed. This constantly increases the carbon offset requirments of the UK and drains energy sources. I have a problem with this from an environmental point of view. Just how much carbon is required to power a camera? Is this extra carbon footprint on the UK justifiable?

This opens up whole new ball games. For instance, the countless numbers of pedestrian lights and traffic lights that are constantly being installed. And seemingly in unnecessary locations, certanly in Kent UK. Not only does this grind traffic to a halt and spend tax payers money on frivolous short-sighted traffic schemes, but the carbon footprint of the installation and the continued energy burden is not being factored.

We could turn off every other street lamp. We could turn off traffic lights in the night between certain hours when they aren’t needed; both from a traffic flow point of view and energy saving. Common sense schemes helping motorists and saving energy at the same time.

Street lamps and traffic lights should be self sustaining with solar panels and could add energy to the national grid. We already have the infrastructure for an instant solar power farm that is actually the whole of the UKs streetlamp infrastructure. No need for special planning permission for new masts or objections from a visual point of view. The posts are already there. We should be making use of the real estate and making sure they contribute towards the energy requirements of the UK: solar panels, wind or water turbines that could contribute energy to the UKs energy infrastructure.

Picture courtesy of Robert Brook

Gordon Brown take the lie test

We are livng in an ever increasing surveilance society in the UK. More and more cameras are being installed every day, whether they are speed cameras or average speed cameras, or CCTV, we are constantly monitored in the UK. I shudder to think how many cameras I drive though when I drive to London. Maybe 200+ in one journey.

I have nothing to hide and actually think CCTV and cameras has a posiive effect in the right place and at the right time. But not to the extent we are experiencing now.

I read last year that microphones have been experimented with on the streets of Westminster. Now, I agree that in certain circumstances, recording conversations is a good thing when all parties are aware they could be recorded. But thinking you are having a private convesation with someone and being recorded. That is a different matter. We’re talking surveilance central.

I heard a couple of weeks ago that a Local Council has tested, with great results, software that analyses a callers voice to determine wheteher the caller is lying. I really feel this is a step too far for civil liberties in the UK.

I put this to you Mr Brown, take your last press conference again, hooked into the lying software, and let’s see how your voice is analysed.

Wake up Labour

I dropped by our old office in Leman Street today to say high to my old landlords. I was absolutely gobsmacked to read this message on the door. This is the reality for many people in the UK right now.

It is my opinion, for what it’s worth (I’m not an economist), that the economy in the UK is out of control. I sat down and had a chat with Mario and Lou and they explained the reasons why they have decided to close this business, which has been run by their family for 55 years. Electricty costs have seemingly doubled over the last 2 years. Might not say exactly so on paper, but the bills don’t lie. The amount of red tape and beurocracy in this country has increased hugely since labour have been in power. Let alone more than 3,000 newly invented crimes. Lou has found himself spending 90% doing admin and paperwork and 10% with people. He did it to be with people. Having passed retirement age there was no point in carrying on.

I was amazed by the amount of newly introduced red tape:
Annual corgi certificate
Annual electricity check
Annual PAT test
Annual music license
£500 a month TV license
Bar licensing increased from £20 every 3 years to £300 a year
Huge rates increase due to out of control property prices

I have missed things here. But I hope I have painted a picture. In my opinion, too many mistakes have been made with out of control spending in the public sector – nice slate forecourt and full time army of cleaning staff Mayor Ken. The licensing in London used to be controlled by one person. Introduce a new licensing scheme and employ an army of 60 staff to control it. New jobs sure, but where’s the money come from? Introduce a new contract for doctors and dentists – half as much work for twice as much money. Reduce the retirement age for public sector workers and make sre they all get a nice pension – anyone know a private company offering this?

You will be sorely missed Lou, Mario, Jacky and Margaret. When the Government is trying to work out how to stop the breakdown of communtiy in the UK, start by trying to keep local heros like these in the place their family has been for 73 years.

 

Oh, and when I got home, my neighbour told me his house has been reposessed because he can’t afford it anymore since the increase in interest rates. House reposessions up by 30% compared to last year. Not sure the average guy on the street can take much more of this.

Mayor Ken, please not another tax

So tonight I was rudely awoken from my evening nap by the news saying that the mayors office is considering has planned to extend the congension charge to include Greenwich and the Blackwall tunnell.

They are currently running an advertising campaign with the
catch-phrase “The congestion charge is still only £8.” I have a real
problem about this for a number of reasons.

Firstly, this points to the fact that we should brace ourselves for a
price rise, again. A psychologcal ploy to make drivers feel grateful
for the price not having been raised by 40% this year like last year.

Secondly, a rise in congestion charge will undoubtedly mean a rise in
public transport costs because it will still be cheaper than driving.

This smacks of accountants and apparent public servants saying the
“market” can take the price rise. Well Londernors are not a “market”.
It is a struggle to make ends meet in London on a day-to-day basis. In
fact, it is becoming a huge struggle to stay solvent in the UK for a
huge amount of people.

Month on month, the UK is experiencing record numbers of people going bankrupt.
There was a 66% rise of people going bankrupt from 2005 to 2006. The
country is living on credit just to make ends meet. Month on month,
new and “exciting” schemes are being introduced to help us spend our
money.

Taxes are no longer incremented in line with inflation, but doubled.
This seems to be a new standard working practice. I was surprised the
new double airport tax introduced last week was legally allowed to go
ahead. In no part of business could you sell a product, then decide -
“All you guys that have bought tickets for flights with £5 airport tax,
well we just decided, actually its £10 tax.”

A peak day travel card to get to work for me is £19.40. Thats £100 per
week, or £5,200 per year. You spend all week working simply to pay
your bills, while having the privalidge of getting up at 7am and
getting home at 8pm.

OK, so I’m getting on my high horse here. But I fear for this
country. As a normal guy on the street trying to make ends meet, I
fear for this country because I see huge financial problems ahead for
many people and consequently business. Especially when each week
seemingly brings a new idea for raising revenue.

Mayor Ken, I urge you to show restraint. I appreciate you have a
workforce of full-time cleaners buffing your 1 mile stretch of slate
paving outside your lovely brand spanking offices. Taking more money
from us is not the answer. It is killing the economy of London and the
economy of the UK.