Green grows the politicians
(and people)
Weekend newspaper supplements, paid for as they are by advertising
for usually opulent and pricey consumer items, are not where
you would usually begin for instruction on green issues (aside
from learning what you can do without and therefore not buy).
But occasionally there is a real gem among the gemstones and
sleek gas guzzlers. Such was the case with the Irish Times
Magazine for 16th July 2005 when Iva Pocock shared information
on green footprints – your waste, your food, your home,
your transport and your holidays. As she states, if everyone
lived like Ireland lives at the moment we’d need 3 planets
– which is a pretty challenging way of putting one aspect
of what we’ve to achieve into perspective. The piece
includes an eco-audit, and suggestions for reducing your impact,
some of which may be easy and some rather more difficult but
all will make a contribution. I might add that public transport
is important, both literally and metaphorically – without
greatly increased state support (insulation, alternative energy
etc) it will be difficult to carry us to a green future.
The wet weather cyclist
It is obvious that cycling will regain a second – and
presumably more lasting – golden age in an oil-less
future. Excepting places which are very hilly, self-propulsion
by cycling or walking could and should account for the vast
majority of journeys of 5 miles or under for able bodied people
(and greater distances for some).
Fine weather cycling is just that, fine,
but some people are put off by wet or cold weather. There
is no need to be put off. If you have the right gear then
you’re fit for anything – in fact it can be quite
pleasant being able to face the worst that the weather can
throw at you with equanimity [What’s that? Aqua-nimity?
– Ed] [‘Evenness of mind or temper’ –
something you’ll never have! = Billy]. Getting the right
gear may cost a bit but is worthwhile investment. The most
expensive item is a breathable waterproof jacket – this
will set you back at least £50/€80 and possibly
rather more but is the one essential. Otherwise you can have
teaming rain, tackle a big hill, and you’re wetter inside
than out with sweat.
After the jacket you need waterproof trousers,
making sure that they’re plenty big enough to allow
for movement or slippage around your waist (there’s
nothing worse than a gaping gap at your back) and to at least
partly cover shoes you’re wearing. Breathable trousers
will set you back over £30/€42 and you can make
do with much cheaper – and lighter – ones if they
really are waterproof. Forget about anything that says ‘Showerproof’
– it’s a waste of time. A few drops of rain is
all they are likely to resist.
Then something for your feet. Most of the
time I wear white trainers (which have the added advantage
of being more reflective in the dark) – if you travel
by bike to work you can keep a pair of work shoes there. But
for very wet weather there is only one item for the job –
the water/rubber/Wellington boot, anything else you should
kick to touch. They’re totally impermeable and if it’s
very cold as well you can wear an extra pair of socks.
And the hands? Well, there are all varieties
of gloves according to taste, including a considerable collection
in your favourite cycle shop, but personally I go for ski
gloves which still permit plenty of hand movement and control,
and are really weather proof. The one disadvantage is that
in intermediate seasons they are too warm on your hands.
If you get yourself properly kitted out
then the rain can bucket down and the only place you may get
a bit wet is the head. In very cold weather I do wear a very
light hat (cycling or knitted) under the helmet, apart from
anything else being follicley challenged, otherwise bald,
a blast of icy air on the forehead can deliver a penetrating
pain which makes me nearly keel over. Properly geared out
you should feel literally impermeable to the rain. You can
even cycle carefully on snow if it hasn’t been compacted
too much and turned to ice, it’s actually quite a pleasant
and in my part of the world unusual experience if you go carefully
and don’t come a cropper. And anyway, it’s not
like you are travelling by bicycle in the north of Norway
in winter (which I read about in one cycling magazine).
Mind you night-time cycling is another
hazard as cars turning can play follow-the-leader and not
see you, or a lapse in concentration by the driver can make
you invisible. As well as the obligatory back and front lights,
I would recommend a large reflective belt, plus an additional
(third) light, set on flashing mode, which you can attach
to your belt or backpack to be visible from back and both
sides. You can also add reflective leg bands if you like.
If you have all that then you are as visible as you can make
yourself; it certainly doesn’t make you invulnerable
but you have fully done your utmost to make sure drivers see
you. You may feel a bit self-conscious to begin with but you
can ask yourself – do I prefer to be highly visible
and get there or highly invisible and knocked down?
Happy and safe winter cycling. And when
people ask you as you arrive, “Are you not cold?”,
you can inform them that, no, on the contrary, you’re
very pleasantly warm, and have already had part of your day’s
exercise.
Lessons don’t end at 3.30
An editorial in this publication recently was musing that
the British government seemed intent on making some of the
same mistakes in relation to bombings and ‘terror’
attacks in Britain as it made in Norn Iron thirty or thirty-five
years ago. And then what did we see in the September 2005
issue of Just News, the Bulletin of the Committee on the Administration
of Justice (CAJ); an article on “The war on terror”.
This is a very useful short tour around various state methods
in ‘combatting the war on terror’ including lethal
force, internment (‘detention without trial’),
torture, the rule of law, security and human rights, and also
the fact that economic change and economic rights were less
rooted as a legal matter in peace negotiations in the Nort
than other measures. The article concluded “Northern
Ireland has a lot of useful experience – good and bad
– to share with the rest of the world….the question
is: is anyone prepared to listen?” The short answer
at the moment would seem to be ‘no’. But then
maybe Norn Iron is ”yesterday’s news” and
just not sexy any more. [The CAJ website at http://www.caj.org.uk
has material from Just News].
Also in the same issue is an article by
Tom Hadden on “Identity Cards” and the (rather
labouring in more than one sense of the word) British proposals
to introduce them in the UK. Beginning in quite neutral fashion,
it raises serious concerns later on. With punning accuracy
he concludes ” Welcome to Big Brother writ large, but
in very small print...”
As the article points out, there has been very little discussion
of the issue in Northern Ireland but I would expect ructions
if they were introduced, at least from people on the nationalist/republican
side and possibly some others.
Peaceful laughter
I think we’re all much too serious most of the time,
about ourselves, about our lives, about our causes. It’s
not that I think we shouldn’t be serious – if
you look around Ireland and the world it’s enough to
make your blood curdle/boil/freeze/insert your own adjective
here. But humour is subversive, healthy and fun. I believe
it’s possible to do serious things in a humorous way,
and I try to preach what I practice (not always successfully
but there you go).
Which is my way of getting around to referring
to the retirement this year of Richard Deats from the Fellowship
of Reconciliation in the USA, I hope he has more time for
pun-ishment. I’ve only met Richard a few times but I
know a humorous spirit when I see one and, indeed, he has
a book published “How to keep laughing – even
though you’ve considered all the facts” (Fellowship
Publications, 1994). Which is an excuse to give a couple of
his stories which have become staples of my own.
“A Zen disciple goes to a hot-dog
vendor in New York City’s Central Park and says, “Make
me one with everything.” “ Brilliant.
“A Philadelphia rabbi was asked if
he knew that many of his members had become Quakers. “Oh
yes, he replied, “some of my best Jews are friends”.
This one I usually spin out a bit before the punch-line, a
concerned person comes nervously to visit the rabbi thinking
he should know but worried about the response he may receive,
etc.
I myself risked a joke with a cleric who
was well known for arriving late and leaving early, and had
recently retired; when he arrived late for a meeting, I commented
“I’m glad to see retirement hasn’t changed
you.” Maybe that was bordering on a put-down, I don’t
know, or a joke at his expense, it could be taken different
ways – which is often the case with humour. And there
are all sorts of issues there which I may return to [that’s
not funny – Ed]
Well, I hope you’re
well settled into your winter schedules by now and everything
is going well. Well, well, well. [And what about the bucket
of water – Ed] [To throw over you? – Billy] Winter
has its advantages including being cosy with your favourite
book, TV programme – or even loved one(s)! – and
refusing to stir. But chance would be a fine thing, so I hope
you get yours. Until the next time, I remain, your disobedient
servant, Billy.
Who
is Billy King? A long, long time ago, in a more
innocent age (just talking about myself you understand),
there were magazines called 'Dawn' and 'Dawn Train'
and I had a back page column in these. Now the Headitor
has asked me to come out from under the carpet to write
a Cyberspace Column 'something people won't be able
to put down' (I hope you're not carrying your monitor
around with you).
Watch this. Cast a cold eye on life, on death, horseman
pass by (because there'll almost certainly be very little
about horses even if someone with a similar name is
found astride them on gable ends around certain parts
of Norn Iron).
