The lesser of two evils

This epiphany may have come just in time to save Frank's gall bladder. We all have our blind spots.
Before anyone gets all upset, I would like to make it clear that - Yes, of course, a predominantly vegetarian diet is by far the healthiest for both individual and ecosystem. My own opinion is that meat is for high days and holidays and then only under the strictest ethical and humanitarian conditions. I'm not indulging in dietary relativism here. I'm just saying...you know....mass production...cheap pizzas...shit cheese...habitual consumption...food miles. Nothing is as simple as it seems. (apart from, occassionally, myself.) The source of the food is the question that everyone has to address.

The Fictitious Economy

Introducing Mrs Ebola Congleton - promoted beyond her capabilities into a pivotal role near you, today.



The meltdown continues. As the faithful wonder how all this could possibly have happened, the rest of us wonder how it lasted this long. "I told you so" is such an ugly phrase. The deluded continue to argue amongst themselves about the price of defending capitalism and the cost of a Damien Hirst. Suddenly FDR is everywhere and we're all supposed to pretend that the entire business and financial elite haven't totally f*cked up.

Guillemots are killing each other's chicks as fish stocks collapse (Aaah - they're almost human, you know);The UK gov't tries to wheedle out of its responsibilities on emissions reduction;while the broadcasters concentrate on the US, Cuba and Haiti are devastated by hurricanes caused by the habits of their wealthy neighbour.

It seems the value of money is inextricably tied up in the subjectivity of the rich. As the wealthy flee the field the financial institutions go tits-up, leaving the poor to pick up the bill. As they keep telling us - it's all about business confidence. What a wonderful foundation for a global civilisation. How stable. How secure.

There'll be a lot of arguing over shifting numbers before the realisation hits that's it's actually the principles that have been miscalculated.

Economic Creationism

These things don't always lend themselves to pithy strips.
I'm getting increasingly alarmed, depressed and generally pissed off by the rise of creationism as some sort of "alternative science" that deserves to be considered by sensible people and even taught to our children. Perhaps we should consider teaching Erik von Daniken as well, or maybe Terry Pratchet. It's turtles all the way down, you know. I suppose it's not surprising - seeing as our entire economic system - and therefore our culture - is based on a fairytale that flies in the face of reason. Specifically - Why do we believe we can prize an infinite amount from a finite resource and grow our economies exponentially in perpetuity? Because we want to. Because it's easier to believe that than to face the realities of our situation and because it upsets people to think otherwise. So Bollocks to physics, biology and climatology. They're too difficult. Give us Super Heroes and Father Christmas. Give us cornucopia and abracadabra.
The fact that we persist in this doublethunk mindf*ck under our present economic management - with banks going tits-up left, right and centre - is a remarkable testament to our "faith"

The idea was to seamlessly plait these two threads into irrefutable comic gold. The evidence may point in another direction but, in the spirit of the age, I shall choose to believe I succeeded.


And finally...
Many thanks to Andrew Revkin for pointing readers of his (and the New York Times') DotEarth in our direction. Much appreciated

Money for Nothing

The emissions permit scheme designed to help the planet only seems to be benefittiing the polluters. The facts speak for themselves.

The Only Planet, Manchester, featured in the cartoon, is being officially launched at the Sandbar, Grosvenor St, Manchester on Wednesday 17th September from 8pm- so if you're within range please come along and support it.

Lawful Excuse

Climate change protest upheld as lawful in court and campaigners aquitted. Well done to all concerned. Good work. Let's hope the precedent sticks, and no one gets silly.

Mailing List Failure

Back to normal now

Generically Mollified?

I was irritated by the pre-reporting of Sir David King's speech - trailed as a righteous condemnation of dangerous green nutters. The debate about the wisdom of conceding control of the planets food resources to organisations driven solely by profit - in conditions of globalised markets, uncontrolled urbanisation and peak energy and population - is being concealed behind scare stories about scare stories. That context is crucial and should be as open to informed debate as the science behind the GM crops themselves.
I didn't find any of it funny. So this isn't.