bens_dad | Recent Entries

The Government's election manifesto said that they would ban fracking for good.

However, the law they are about to introduce only stops new fracking licences from being issued.
But there’s a big problem: the law won’t ban all types of fracking OR stop fracking that has already been agreed.

https://act.38degrees.org.uk/act/ban-fracking-for-good

https://friendsoftheearth.uk/climate/mp-briefing-how-fully-ban-fracking

The RNLI have received abuse online and in person after rescuing migrants at sea:
https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/portsmouth-protestors-face-backlash-after-34582288

If you wish to thank them and show that most people do support these volunteers, you can sign a letter at
https://act.38degrees.org.uk/act/rnli-thanks-eoi

I hear that there is a serious proposal to shut down Freeview - free to air television.
https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/watch-this-space-a-new-strategic-direction-for-uk-media-green-paper-and-public-consultation
- the shutdown might happen in 2034 or 2044 if it goes ahead.
I also understand that the consultation closes in a few days.

The easyread version of the consultation is 81 pages; the "standard" version is 94 !

38 degrees have a petition *not* to shut down Freeview
https://38d.gs/2bjo

Currently the dishwashing is running
and the solar panels are generating enough energy to power the house
and to export 5kW to the grid
but the BBC weather forecast says it is raining.

So if I wish to automate efficient use of the solar system, I need a better weather forecast.

The Met Office says it isn't raining, but does have a thunderstorm warning for this evening
(almost overlapping with the peak rate when Octopus pay us 29.25p/kWh for supplying the grid).

Make Polluters Pay for Climate Disasters
This is Europe's reality today: homes in flames, families evacuated, and firefighters battling fires they can’t contain. Europe needs billions to prepare for future wildfires. The biggest oil and gas companies made more than €40 billion last year. Tell the EU to make polluters pay.

https://action.wemove.eu/sign/2026-08-protect-europe-make-polluters-pay-petition-EN?akid=s8821069..hKC8HU

Not sure how much good those in the UK asking the European Commission to do something will do, but ...

https://action.wemove.eu/sign/2026-07-maximum-working-temperature-petition-EN

Petition

As climate change worsens, heat waves will become more frequent and more severe. We call on you to ensure there is sufficient legislation in place to protect workers from excessive heat. This includes but is not limited to:

Maximum working temperatures - taking into consideration aspects such as the type of work (e.g. sedentary or physical labour), location, sun exposure and more
Mandatory workplace heat risk assessments that are inclusive and take into account the specific risks that heat exposure poses to groups like pregnant or older workers, or workers with pre-existing health conditions.
Risk minimisation measures such as shaded areas, access to water, adapted work hours and cooling breaks.

Why is this important?

Too hot to think. Too hot to sleep. Too hot to work.

That’s what it’s been like for many of us, as temperatures climbed past 40 degrees in parts of Europe. [1]

Working in extreme heat can be deadly. [2] And as our bodies struggle to function in the heat, workplace accidents rise sharply. [3]

Some countries, like Belgium and Hungary, have set maximum working temperatures. But most haven’t, and with no EU-wide law, millions of us risk injury or even death during a heatwave.

If our leaders don’t act now, there will be more deaths, more illness and more injuries at work. But if enough of us speak up, we can force them to act before another heatwave hits.

Sign the petition now to call on the EU, its member states and the UK to ensure workers are safe from extreme heat.
References:

[1] https://www.ndtvprofit.com/world/europe-under-blazing-heatwave-with-temperature-set-to-touch-45-c-in-france-check-forecast-11671207

[2] https://www.etuc.org/en/pressrelease/new-heat-tragedies-call-maximum-working-temperatures

[3] https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c5ylwxl5n01o

Volkswagen built its reputation as one of the world’s biggest carmakers. Now, it could move from making cars to supplying military technology to Israel.

We can still stop this. But only if enough of us speak out now.

https://action.wemove.eu/sign/2026-06-StopVW-Israel-Airshield-petition-EN

We demand that:

All new data centres in Europe must meet their energy demand with 100% new, local and additional renewable energy
Companies must be made to be transparent on energy demand projections, real energy use and emissions per site for planned and existing data centres
No new data centres in Europe until they are made compatible with Europe’s energy transition and climate goals

https://action.wemove.eu/sign/2026-05-green-data-centres-petition-EN

https://act.38degrees.org.uk/act/no-subscription-model-for-bbc
---------------------------------

To: Culture Secretary, Lisa Nandy
Petition text

Reject GB News’ proposal to gut the BBC and turn it into a Netflix-style subscription service.
---------------------------------

Why is this important?

GB News just submitted a radical proposal calling for the BBC to be completely gutted – cut back, scrapped, or hidden behind a Netflix-style subscription service. Shows like Strictly Come Dancing and The Traitors, cancelled.

The plan is also being described as a “blueprint for Reform”, showing the threat to our BBC if the Reform Party wins the next election. With ministers currently making huge decisions about the BBC’s future, we can’t let these ideas take hold.

But if hundreds of thousands of us sign this petition today, we can prevent ministers bowing to GB News' demands AND show the Reform Party how unpopular these ideas are!

---------------------------------
https://act.38degrees.org.uk/act/no-subscription-model-for-bbc
---------------------------------

Which is concerned that the Government may back out of their commitment to a ban on ticket-touts:
https://www.facebook.com/whichuk/posts/pfbid02Z7TbTooKtwXSVDmmXoDKJfTRPNJLhBkT8zbnTmc7bqjAQyx23Fbxp6nfrH7DoD5vl

While waiting for my train to pull into Oxenholme station this afternoon, we we parked next to the steam engine 70000 Britannia with steam up while she was having some work done and I got a video of one of her coupling or connecting rods carried away.

Like 60163 Tornado on Friday, there was a coach with her.

https://38d.gs/end-palantir-NHS-contract

Palantir, the controversial U.S. company linked to Trump’s ICE agency and
Israeli military, has quietly secured major NHS contracts. But news reports
today say the Government could pull an emergency break clause, meaning they
bring these controversial contracts to a screeching halt.

But Palantir and their PR machine are already fighting dirty. They’re
lobbying the Government hard, dismissing people like me and you, as
“ideologically motivated campaigners” just for standing up for our public
services.

That’s why this moment matters. If enough of us speak out, we can show the
Government that this isn’t just a handful of campaigners, it’s a national
outcry to defend our NHS and keep OUR data out of Palantir's hands.
Together, we can show that we back them to pull the trigger on the break
clause NOW.

Will you join me and add your name today to get this contract scrapped and
protect our NHS?

https://38d.gs/end-palantir-NHS-contract

There is a new Rust security alert: Rustsec-2026-0007 aka CVE‑2026‑25541.
I'm taking my understanding of this bug from
https://windowsforum.com/threads/rust-bytes-vulnerability-cve-2026-25541-memory-safety-in-bytesmut-reserve.403939/

As I understand it, Rust is a computer language designed and "sold" as being much safer than other fast languages, such as C and C++ precisely because those languages are very susceptible to bugs like this.

What am I missing ?

One of the big differences between Apple and Android is that if you want to make your app available on an iPhone you have to put it on the Apple Store, whereas there are alternatives to the Google Play Store for those who wish to use them (such as F-Droid).
Google have now decided to close this option and make all Android developers pay to register to be able to write apps that other people can install on their phones and tablets.
https://keepandroidopen.org/

It seems that Royal Mail (a privately owned company) is prioritising profitable parcels over letter post.
https://act.38degrees.org.uk/act/royal-mail-letters-eoi

I wrote to the King, asking him not to visit the United States as part of their celebration of 250 years of independence from the UK and our monarchs.

I have had a reply.

Sadly it is marked "Private and Confidential" so I cannot tell you what it said.

I wasn't really hoping for a reply and the King now knows how I feel.
I will just have to hope that he does the right thing.

The only previous time I wrote to the Palace, the Queen was overtaken by events:
Boris resigned whilst I was at the post box !

OK. It isn't strictly password advice.
I have just received an email from Google with the subject: [Action Advised] Review Google Cloud credential security best practices - not sure why, I have a gmail account but no live cloud stuff.

This is the bit that annoys me: Disable Dormant Keys: Audit your active keys and decommission any that show no activity over the last 30 days.

The problem is that many internet resources that want/need to be secured, I do not access frequently.

Ah. Maybe the point is that *I* don't need a continued identity, but having one makes my interaction with the resource more profitable to them.

King Charles is to celebrate US Independence.
Good riddance to the current US leadership -fair enough.

... but the King is to celebrate it in the US, with Trump.

This will give Trump exactly the ego boost he wants.

Show your displeasure:
https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/call-off-the-king-s-visit-to-the-us-for-the-250th-anniversary-of-independence

Good Money Week (6-12 October) is fast approaching with some exciting events
and resources to help you reflect and act for a fairer, greener economy.

Good Money Sunday – 12 October
Our brand new resources for Good Money Sunday are now available!

These include:
* Worship resources, including hymn suggestions, prayers and notes for a sermon
* Lectionary reflections for Sunday 12 October
* Inspiring stories, from people who have taken steps to use their money for the good of the planet
* Practical ideas for action, for both individuals and churches

Good Money Sunday resources
(https://justmoney.org.uk/good-money-sunday/#GoodMoneySundayresources)
If you can’t use these resources on 12 October, you are welcome to adapt and use them at another point in the year.

Good Money Week events
We are also running a number of events in and around Good Money Week – check
them out and sign up here.
Events (https://justmoney.org.uk/event/)
EVENT: Energise Africa, Friday 19th September 6:30pm
Join us to hear about the work of Energise Africa, enabling investment in
clean, affordable energy for communities in Africa, and how churches can get
involved. We will hear from Ray Coyle, CEO of Energise Africa, as well as
members of our own team. This webinar is part of our work with Black Majority
Churches, and is aimed at pastors, church workers and leaders, but all are
welcome.
Sign up here (https://justmoney.org.uk/event/energise-africa/)
If you have any questions about Good Money Week, Good Money Sunday and how to
get involved, please don’t hesitate to get in touch at info@justmoney.org.uk
(mailto: info@justmoney.org.uk) .

Every blessing,

Annie Sharples
Communications and Events Coordinator

P.S. Make Them Pay rally
We are part of the Make Them Pay coalition, which is mobilising in central
London on Saturday 20 September, demanding that the Government taxes the
super-rich, protects workers, and makes polluters pay for the climate crisis.
You can find out more at www.makethempay.org.uk. If you are planning to
attend the vigil and/or the rally, please do let us know by emailing
info@justmoney.org.uk (mailto: info@justmoney.org.uk) , and we can put you in
touch with fellow JustMoney supporters.

There will be an interfaith vigil
(https://www.makethempay.org.uk/interfaith-vigil/) before the march,
organised by Faith for the Climate, meeting at Cavendish Square Gardens at
11:30am. Do sign up (https://www.makethempay.org.uk/interfaith-vigil/) so
they know who to expect.

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Headline: This cargo ship is turning its CO2 emissions into green cement
Sub-head: The first commercial carbon capture system for boats has set sail
https://thenextweb.com/news/cargo-ship-turning-co2-into-cement

Seabound’s carbon capture equipment traps the exhaust gas produced by the vessel’s huge diesel engines and funnels it into a big, high-pressure chamber filled with calcium hydroxide pebbles. The CO2 in the exhaust gas reacts with the pebbles and transforms into calcium carbonate — also known as limestone, the key ingredient in cement.

Whilst that is true, the next bit

That limestone is stored onboard and will be offloaded in Norway, where it will be delivered to Heidelberg Materials’ cement plant in Brevik. There, it will be used to produce greener concrete on an industrial scale

is highly misleading. Cement manufacture starts by using vast amounts of energy to turn calcium carbonate into calcium hydroxide. Thus this cleaning up of the exhaust gases is of no benefit to the cement industry.

They could use clean energy to turn the carbonate back into hydroxide, making the ship carbon neutral, but why not use use the clean energy on the ship in the first place ?
I suppose that the pebbles/cement and diesel might be lighter and smaller than a sufficiently powerful solar/wind system and safer than storing green hydrogen ... It might also be a useful stopgap until shipping is electrified.

It wont even stop us from ripping up mountains for the limestone to make the cement.

Am I missing something or is this really something between misleading and a scam ?

Profile

bens_dad

September 2026

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Syndicate

Page Summary

Ban Fracking for Good
Lifeboats
Switching off Freeview (in 2034 or 2044) ?
Financial benefit from the weather forecast ?
Europeans lose everything to fires. Big Oil turns a profit
Maximum working temperature?
Stop Volkswagen’s weapons deal
Run EU data centres on 100% renewables!
No subscription model for the BBC
Is the ticket-tout ban endangered ?
Steam engine Britannia 70000
Do you want the same company working for Trump's ICE, the Israeli military and running NHS data ?
Have I missunderstood Rust ?
Keep Android Open
Stop Royal Mail leaving our letters undelivered !
I've had a letter from Buckingham Palace
Google Cloud password advice.
King Charles to celebrate US Independence ... with Trump
Take part in Good Money Week
Am I missing something or is this something between misleading and a scam ?

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