Monthly Archives: February 2014

This is the view of the Union of Concerned Scientists, a lobby group, onthe imagined “scientific consensus” that most of the global warming since 1950 was manmade: This, however, is what the published, peer-reviewed science actually shows: Over and over … Continue reading →

When James Lovelock published his famous “Gaia” theory in 1979, I thought he was nuts.  He talked about the links between all biological life in the biosphere, and he had a point.  But he seemed to be saying not simply that … Continue reading →

When I first heard that Nick Clegg had asked Nigel Farage for a debate on EU issues, I was (as they say) gob-smacked.  Turkeys voting for Christmas.  A Clegg death-wish.  A boy sent to do a man’s job. I’ve debated … Continue reading →

On the Romney Hythe & Dymchurch Railway: The “Winston Churchill” locomotive I remember as a child my parents taking me for holidays on the South Coast, and a key attraction that’s always stuck in my mind was the Romney, Hythe … Continue reading →

Not at these prices! I occasionally get e-mails from UKIP members saying “OK, I know why we oppose wind and solar.  But we can’t afford to be against all renewables.  Why don’t we take a strong stand in favour of … Continue reading →

Britain spends nearly £12 billion a year on foreign aid.  By international standards, we are almost grotesquely generous.  We are the second largest aid donor in absolute terms (behind the USA), and the sixth largest in relative terms, at 0.56% … Continue reading →

We need a sense of proportion The floods have achieved one thing: they’ve whipped up a frenzy about climate change.  Some flood victims (for whom we all have enormous sympathy) have been seen with banners calling for “climate action now”.  … Continue reading →