Earth Gazer

A friend on Facebook posted a link to this 'cult' French film which is now available with English subtitles on YouTube. The Green Beautiful (La Belle Verte) was apparently banned in the USA and it's easy to see why (watch the film). It's broken down onto 9 parts. I watched the first part and maybe because I was in the wrong mood, I didn't really get where it was going and it all seemed a bit strange, so I left it for a few weeks. Today, I made myself watch the first part again, and then the second and it all started to fit together. Strange, but hugely thought provoking and beautiful.

I've had a weak back for a long time, possibly from lots of driving and bad posture (sitting behind a computer screen) when I was younger -  who knows? Since reaching my 40's I've been aware of how important keeping one's health has been - there are so many things that I want to do with my life, but a lot of them will involve a degree of physical strength, so having something like a bad or weak back was to be avoided. Of course, thinking and doing are different things and when you feel well, you get complacent and end up doing nothing preventative. Until that is, a problem strikes and you realise just how vulnerable you can be. Last week, sciatica struck. I woke up with a twinge in my back and thought that, as usual, it would disappear within a few minutes. Well it didn't, but the next thing I did was rather stupid - I spent 2 hours or so digging over a vegetable patch. I know, I know - I've had the lecture from my Chiropractor today about listening to the b

I signed the petition to 'Save our Forests' at the excellent 38degrees website . My local MP, Lorely Burt wrote back to me, which was good (she has been a good campaigner on local issues), however, she has voted for the bill to go through and seems to have fallen victim to the governments spin. The 'consultation' she refers to has a number of options. Unfortunately, one of the options is not to keep things as they are. One of the issues that the government seems to have is that the Forestry Commission (FC) is seen as both a regulator and is therefore regulated by itself. OK, this is perhaps wrong, but surely the answer would be to split the FC into two rather than sell off the forests? Here's what she said. I will be trying to get to see her. Lorely Burt MP for Solihull HOUSE OF COMMONS LONDON SWIA OAA   03 February 2011 RE: Forestry Commission  Thank you for contacting me with your concerns regarding the Forestry Commission. I would be strongly opposed to any