How to tell the truth - but not all of it.

 

Throughout the world governments tell us stories but seldom do they tell us the full story and the information they give us might not have the same meaning.

The cartoon here may be an extreme example but whenever governments make a statement it's important to check that they are telling you the full story. Here's an example from the UK government sent to me in an email begging for funding.

This missive from our government is a classic example. 'Missive' in this case being what the government missed out.

•They said they'd achieved, "Getting Brexit done and taking back control of our nation’s destiny" They left out the part about BREXIT now costing the UK £800 million per week, rather more than the £350 million they claimed the EU cost us claimed on that famous Brexit bus.

•They said they'd achieved, "Delivering the biggest cash boost in history for the NHS." They left out the information that the NHS is now eight years into the longest financial squeeze in its history. That cash boost will still leave the NHS behind.

•They said they would be, "Increasing school funding to give every child a world class education." Will this replace the cuts since 2015, let alone provide a world-class education for every child?

•They said they will be, "Launching a new plan for immigration to control our borders." Before Brexit we could move freely throughout the EU. Now we can't. Before Brexit we had full control of immigration from outside the EU - that hasn't changed. Immigration is important to the UK. Without immigration the UK population would drop and there would be skills shortages. The government seems intent on making things worse. Compassion and common sense at our borders? Not a chance.

•They said they would be, "Giving our police the powers and resources needed to keep your streets safe." Our streets are ALREADY safe. There is less violent crime now than there was 20 years ago*. The regulations they suggest will curtail civil liberties.

* According to a recent New Scientist article the decrease in violent crime is probably due to the removal of lead from petrol (gas). It's a worldwide change and is set to decrease further as those affected age and the lead works its way from our environment.

Plastic pollution - a possible solution.

Isn't it time that some bright spark produced a solution to the plastic pollution problem we face? Almost all of the plastic we produce eventually ends up as landfill or makes it's way to the sea to eventually produce microplastics.

Relatively little plastic is recycled. A whopping 91% of what is collected isn't. Some is burnt. Some can't be burnt without producing toxic gasses. Most goes into landfills.

Plastic is everywhere. It wraps our food, it forms the seal inside glass jar lids, some cans have a plastic lining. Our clothes lose plastic fibres when we wash them and when we dry them.

The water we drink has microplastics in it. The fish and other food we eat has microplastics embedded too. We don't know how this will affect us.

So what's the answer? What can WE do? I suggest there's a need for a plastic concentration device. Something which will get hot enough to melt plastic without creating fumes. Possibly something like an electric kettle?

Once molten, the plastic can be poured into a mould to solidify or possibly allowed to solidify in the device and the solid block removed later - that would be safer. Don't worry if the plastics used are mixed because the blocks produced can be reprocessed further and ground thermosetting plastics added. We then use this as a substitute for the asphalt used on roads. There are firms already doing this https://macrebur.com/ for example. The resultant road surfaces are:

• Up to 60% stronger and last up to 10 x longer
• The road surface is less vulnerable to melting in hot weather
• Saves councils money
• We get rid of a LOT of plastic and produce less carbon dioxide emissions at the same time
• Plastic roads can have a hollow space to allow for pipes, wiring etc. That reduced roadworks which dig up the surface.
• Plastic roads can be heated which could prevent them from freezing and also evaporate surface water
• Plastic roads can be manufactured in interlocking sections which are easily assembled or disassembled

The process isn't perfect though. Some plastic particles may still make their way to the sea but the problem should be greatly reduced.

Experiments have found that the plastic road should still contain some asphalt to add to its strength.