[Diggers350] Somerset levels - don't care what locals say?

Tony Gosling tony at cultureshop.org.uk
Sat Feb 8 23:19:43 GMT 2014


>From: Chris Baulman <landrights4all at gmail.com>
>
>
>Quite right Tony. LVT also leads to 
>gentrification & leaves the poor dependent on 
>its trickle down "benefits" rather than 
>recognising & securing their land rights.
>
>Chris Baulman  https://www.facebook.com/landrights4all
>@landrights4all   https://id.theguardian.com/profile/landrights4all/public
>
>
>On 07/02/2014 11:45 PM, "Tony Gosling" 
><<mailto:tony at cultureshop.org.uk>tony at cultureshop.org.uk> wrote:
>how very wrong Peter
>Land tax just binds humanity further into the 
>cult of money and the crooks now in charge of the tax spend
>Read a bit of WInstanley and learn from him, not me.
>T
>
>At 14:08 05/02/2014, you wrote:
>>A tax on all land values and then redistribute 
>>to all is the most efficient way to make land a 
>>common treasury for all and belong to us all. 
>>In the true spirit of the diggers.
>>
>>Our earth is too precious not to tax its use
>>
>>I do not really care what a bunch of locals 
>>would say in a public meeting, as its just a 
>>gut reaction to their self-interest, most 
>>people only ague from a point of self-interest 
>>and frame the debate as such – it does not mean 
>>they are correct. My views are to support 
>>mankind and our future generation and have some places for wildlife.
>>
>>Nothing wrong with using logic and science to 
>>understand and solve our problems. You need to 
>>do a bit more ‘digging’ to understand 
>>economics, fluvial geomorphology and the 
>>benefits of having your belief systems challenged now and again.
>>Peter Smith
>>Chief Executive
>>Wildwood Trust
>>Description: cid:image002.jpg at 01CC58FA.00DD6780
>>
>>Follow us on 
>><http://twitter.com/WildwoodTrust#/WildwoodTrust>Twitter 
>>Find us on 
>><http://www.facebook.com/pages/Herne-Bay-United-Kingdom/The-Wildwood-Trust/188177837868?ref=mf>Facebook 
>>See our latest pictures on <http://flickr.com/photos/wildwoodtrust/>Flickr
>>e-mail:  <mailto:peter at wildwoodtrust.org>peter at wildwoodtrust.org
>>Tel:  01227 712111
>><http://www.wildwoodtrust.org/>www.wildwoodtrust.org
>>  If you would like to receive our monthly 
>> newsletter then sign up on 
>> <http://www.wildwoodtrust.org/news.htm#events>http://www.wildwoodtrust.org/news.htm#events
>>Wildwood Trust
>>Herne Common
>>Herne Bay
>>Kent
>>CT6 7LQ
>>  Registered Charity No 1093702
>>  Wildwood Trust is Kent's unique 'Woodland 
>> Discovery Park', a visitor attraction with a difference.
>>  Wildwood is not only the best place to bring 
>> the family for a day out, but it is also a 
>> bold and innovative new charity, backed by the 
>> UK's leading wildlife conservationists. As a 
>> new charity Wildwood needs everyone's support 
>> in its mission to save our native and once native wildlife from extinction.
>>Wildwood Trust's vision is to bring back our 
>>true 'wildwood', a unique new way of restoring 
>>Britain's land to its natural state. This 
>>involves releasing large wild herbivores and 
>>developing conservation grazing systems to 
>>restore natural ecological processes to help Britain team with wildlife again.
>>The Wildwood 'Woodland Discovery Park' is an 
>>ideal day out for all the family where you can 
>>come 'nose to nose' with British Wildlife. 
>>Wildwood offers its members and visitors a 
>>truly inspirational way to learn about the 
>>natural history of Britain by actually seeing 
>>the wildlife that once lived here.
>>Set in a sublime 38 acres of Ancient Woodland, 
>>Wildwood offers visitors a truly unique 
>>experience. Come Nose to Nose with our 
>>secretive badgers, experience what it is like 
>>to be hunted by a real live pack of wolves, 
>>watch a charging wild boar or track down a beaver in his lodge.
>>Wildwood Trust runs a highly successful 
>>programme of Conservation Projects - we are the 
>>UK's leading experts in rescuing and 
>>re-establishing colonies of Britain's most 
>>threatened mammal, the water vole. Wildwood 
>>Trust has pioneered the use of ancient wild 
>>horses to restore nature reserve. Wildwood 
>>Trust has been at the forefront of efforts to 
>>re-establish the European Beaver back in 
>>Britain where they belong. European Beaver have 
>>been proven to help manage water ways to bring 
>>back a huge range of plants, insects and animals.
>>Follow us on 
>><http://twitter.com/WildwoodTrust#/WildwoodTrust>Twitter 
>>Find us on 
>><http://www.facebook.com/pages/Herne-Bay-United-Kingdom/The-Wildwood-Trust/188177837868?ref=mf>Facebook 
>>See our latest pictures on <http://flickr.com/photos/wildwoodtrust/>Flickr
>>
>>From: Tony Gosling [ mailto:tony at cultureshop.org.uk]
>>Sent: 05 February 2014 13:12
>>To: Peter Smith, Wildwood Trust
>>Subject: RE: [Diggers350] Somerset levels - monks that dug them
>>
>>Tks,
>>
>>Oh dear LVT too is hopeless Tax is for luxuries which land isn't.
>>
>>Flooding of levels even RSPB don't agree
>>You, I repeat Peter, would not last five 
>>minutes at a public meeting down there, all words.
>>Good radio debate to be had though if you're up for it.
>>Too much of the anti dredging brigade see 
>>animals as just as important as humans - very 
>>new age - probably just like wife murdering Prince Charles.
>>
>>T
>>At 12:37 05/02/2014, you wrote:
>>
>>Our Annual review attached and go the Charity 
>>Commission website and type our name in to get 
>>all the info you need 
>><http://www.charitycommission.gov.uk/find-charities/>http://www.charitycommission.gov.uk/find-charities/
>>
>>Our money comes mostly comes from individual 
>>Membership subscription, entrance fees, 
>>training courses and education fees, donations, 
>>Ecological consultancy services, grant making 
>>trusts, trading (shop & café) and the odd legacy.
>>
>>I do lectures on charitable funding to 
>>postgraduate conservation students at a few 
>>university departments – find  that 
>>presentation attached. One of my areas of 
>>interest is charitable funding (As well as my 
>>Ecological qualifications I studied for an MA 
>>in Marketing & and MBA with focus on charitable fundraising)
>>
>>I hope that answers your question. But as to 
>>dredging – it is not the full solution - and 
>>the levels needs (in some part) to be returned 
>>to wetland and the upper catchment that drains 
>>into the levels needs less (state sponsored) 
>>farming and more wilderness and extensive 
>>farming to slow down flows and retain water for longer periods.
>>
>>Land Value Tax is the perfect way to achieve 
>>the ‘diggers’ objectives as it allows for us to 
>>all share in the common treasury of land and 
>>natural resources and will promote the break-up 
>>of uneconomic landed estates that will offer 
>>opportunities to many for low impacts 
>>smallholding and wildlife, while still allowing 
>>for economic productivity, more jobs etc. It 
>>will also promote the land’s ability to hold 
>>water and get people off land that is prone to 
>>flooding or is below the economic margin to be 
>>farmed.  Land below the economic margin of 
>>production needs to be ‘rewilded’ and this is 
>>where keystone animals like beavers and wild 
>>horse come in to help create diverse habitats, 
>>structural diversity and maximise biodiversity.
>>
>>Any  gemophologist and/or hydrologist will tell 
>>you that dredging is not the answer – or read 
>>the EA presentation, attached, on dredging 
>>attached with some nice graphs to help you understand the issues involved.
>>
>>All the best
>>Peter Smith
>>Chief Executive
>>Wildwood Trust
>>Description: cid:image002.jpg at 01CC58FA.00DD6780
>>
>>Follow us on 
>><http://twitter.com/WildwoodTrust#/WildwoodTrust>Twitter 
>>Find us on 
>><http://www.facebook.com/pages/Herne-Bay-United-Kingdom/The-Wildwood-Trust/188177837868?ref=mf>Facebook 
>>See our latest pictures on <http://flickr.com/photos/wildwoodtrust/>Flickr
>>e-mail:  <mailto:peter at wildwoodtrust.org>peter at wildwoodtrust.org
>>Tel:  01227 712111
>><http://www.wildwoodtrust.org/>www.wildwoodtrust.org
>>  If you would like to receive our monthly 
>> newsletter then sign up on 
>> <http://www.wildwoodtrust.org/news.htm#events>http://www.wildwoodtrust.org/news.htm#events
>>Wildwood Trust
>>Herne Common
>>Herne Bay
>>Kent
>>CT6 7LQ
>>  Registered Charity No 1093702
>>
>>
>>
>>Somerset floods: this is a man-made disaster
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
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>>
>><http://www.telegraph.co.uk/topics/weather/10607011/Somerset-floods-this-is-a-man-made-disaster.html>http://www.telegraph.co.uk/topics/weather/10607011/Somerset-floods-this-is-a-man-made-disaster.html
>>
>>
>>
>>Somerset apple farmer Julian Temperley is one 
>>of the thousands whose homes and livelihoods have been damaged by the deluge
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>Somerset floods: this is a man-made disaster
>>
>>Submerged: Julian Temperley at his flooded family home Photo: Jay Williams
>>By <http://www.telegraph.co.uk/journalists/anna-tyzack/>Anna Tyzack
>>12:43PM GMT 30 Jan 2014
>>Floods here on the Somerset Levels are normally 
>>really good fun. The sun comes out and we go 
>>sailing over our fields and my eldest daughter 
>>Alice [Temperley, the designer] will take some 
>>pictures of a girl in a canoe wearing one of 
>>her dresses. We happen to run our business, 
>><http://www.ciderbrandy.co.uk/>The Somerset 
>>Cider Brandy company, in a part of Somerset 
>>that is low lying, so we’re prepared for 
>>flooding. The water arrives, then quickly 
>>disappears and no damage is done because we 
>>have systems in place to control it. But there 
>>is nothing fun about this current flood, which 
>>came on New Year’s Day and has stuck around ever since.
>>The Environment Agency has been widely reported 
>>as saying it’s a freak occurrence. Not a 
>>chance. This is a man-made ecological disaster. 
>>The River Parrett, which runs through the 
>>Levels, is blocked and badly needs dredging. 
>>I’m not sure people realise that this is not 
>>just a theory being discussed in the papers, 
>>it’s a fact. It’s what is actually happening. 
>>The river at Bridgwater is 10ft below its 
>>banks, while five miles upstream it is overflowing.
>>If I don’t dig out the ditches on my land all 
>>hell breaks loose. I lose my single farm 
>>payment and receive a fine. But the Environment 
>>Agency won’t dig out its blasted river and so 
>>my ditches have nowhere to drain. As a result 
>>we have 50 acres of land under six feet of 
>>water – it would take more than 30 years for it 
>>to evaporate naturally. Thankfully I’ve managed 
>>to salvage most of the cider and cider brandy 
>>in our barns but I’ve lost some of my orchards 
>>and in Thorney House, our family home where my 
>>98-year-old father lives, the flood water comes 
>>half way up my wellies. A few weeks ago it was 
>>covering the furniture. My father, who is 
>>deeply upset about the situation, is staying 
>>with my aunt in Worcestershire while we rent 
>>him a house. It’s a big upheaval for a man of his age.
>>Of course it’s not just my family that has been 
>>affected. About 20,000 acres of farmland in 
>>Somerset have been underwater for a month now. 
>>I’m sure you’ve seen the pictures. The ancient 
>>village of Muchelney is totally cut off; you 
>>can only get there by boat, and Thorney, where 
>>my father lives, has been evacuated. The 
>>reality is horrific: tractors and cars have 
>>been submerged; animals drowned, and the locals are in despair.
>>An oak furniture maker near Bridgwater has lost 
>>more than £1million of furniture, while the 
>>potter John Leach, 75, whose grandfather 
>>Bernard Leach established Muchelney Pottery, a 
>>family dynasty, has had to lay off his five 
>>employees; unless they were prepared to swim, 
>>there was no way they could get to their 
>>workshops. He’s in a deep depression and I 
>>think we’d lose him from the area altogether if 
>>he could sell his house. But of course it’s 
>>filled with water, so that’s not going to happen.
>>So why hasn’t the Environment Agency dredged 
>>the river? It used to be done every five years; 
>>even more than that in the areas where silt 
>>builds up more quickly. But for the past 20 
>>years the Environment Agency has refused to 
>>dredge – a process that would have cost them 
>>about £4million – arguing that it is 
>>anti-environmental and causes as many problems 
>>as it solves (which defies common sense). 
>>Instead, £31million has been spent on creating 
>>a spurious wildlife reserve to protect the 
>>beetles in the river banks which, by the way, 
>>are very close relations of cockroaches. To 
>>think national treasures such as Leach are 
>>considered of less importance than some dubious beetles!
>>This reluctance to dredge is about as 
>>ridiculous as me telling MPs in London to take 
>>down the Thames Barrier, pull down the 
>>Embankment, and let the Thames flood Soho as it 
>>pleases. The Somerset Levels, just like London, 
>>are a man-made environment; the River Parrett 
>>was not put where it is by God but by man. 
>>Taunton and Yeovil are two of the 
>>fastest-growing towns in England and they’re 
>>putting more pressure than ever on the Parrett, 
>>a slow flowing, naturally silty river. My 
>>great-great-great-grandfather used to bring 
>>coal barges up it from Wales; you couldn’t do 
>>that trip in a canoe, now – the bottom of the river is so high with silt
>>We need to dredge 15 miles from the mouth of 
>>the river up to Thorney, as has been done in 
>>some shape or form for the past 500 years to 
>>safeguard communities from this kind of 
>>flooding. Not even the Second World War got in 
>>the way of it – we put Italian POWs on the job.
>>When the Somerset Levels flooded last year – 
>>and water poured in to my father’s house for 
>>the first time since 1926 – the Government 
>>declared it a once-in-a-lifetime event. Now 
>>it’s happened again, they’ve conceded that 
>>“some dredging might be done” but only after 
>>they’ve carried out studies. This week the 
>>chair of the Environment Agency Lord Smith told 
>>BBC Radio 4’s 
>><http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006qj9z>Today 
>>programme: “Dredging would probably make a 
>>small difference, but it’s not the 
>>comprehensive answer that some people claim.” 
>>The fact they think they need to research the 
>>situation shows how stupid they are. River 
>>dredging happens all over the world all the 
>>time. If they need someone to tell them whether 
>>water flows up hill or down hill, they should 
>>ask a local farmer or call in the army to sort 
>>out the situation – that’s what happened in the foot-and-mouth crisis of 2001.
>>We’re going to be flooded here in Somerset for 
>>at least another five weeks. The longer the 
>>water lingers over the Levels, the greater the 
>>ecological disaster. If the weather was 10 
>>degrees colder, the flora and fauna beneath it 
>>would be protected but as it is the grass and 
>>trees are dying and everything is starting to smell.
>>There’s also the economic damage to consider. 
>>In both the villages of Thorney and Muchelney 
>>there’s at least £1million damage, and about 
>>£50million across the whole area. Once Thorney 
>>House has dried – which will take weeks – it 
>>will need to be cleaned, replastered, rewired 
>>and replumbed, every appliance replaced and the 
>>furniture repaired. Last year we also had to 
>>replace all the old wooden floors with tiles; 
>>the whole job cost £70,000. This year the 
>>damage is three times as bad and the insurance 
>>companies, most of which were so accommodating 
>>last year, aren’t going to take kindly to renewing our policies now.
>>Over the past couple of weeks I’ve started 
>>receiving emails from my neighbours asking when 
>>the church services take place in Muchelney. 
>>They’re all going to church now; they think 
>>God’s got something to do with all this water. 
>>But this is quite clearly a man-made problem. 
>>Yes, it’s been wet but we are, after all, in 
>>the middle of winter. There has been no 
>>cloudburst or crazy storm. The only thing God 
>>can be blamed for is not giving the Environment Agency any brains.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
>--
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>poison which alienates the possessor from the community" Carl Jung
><https://217.72.179.7/members/www.bilderberg.org/phpBB2/>https://217.72.179.7/members/www.bilderberg.org/phpBB2/
>
>Fear not therefore: for there is nothing covered 
>that shall not be revealed; and nothing hid that 
>shall not be made known. What I tell you in 
>darkness, that speak ye in the light and what ye 
>hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops. Matthew 10:26-27
>
>Die Pride and Envie; Flesh, take the poor's advice.
>Covetousnesse be gon: Come, Truth and Love arise.
>Patience take the Crown; throw Anger out of dores:
>Cast out Hypocrisie and Lust, which follows whores:
>Then England sit in rest; Thy sorrows will have end;
>Thy Sons will live in peace, and each will be a friend.
><http://tinyurl.com/6ct7zh6>http://tinyurl.com/6ct7zh6
>
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"The maintenance of secrets acts like a psychic poison which 
alienates the possessor from the community" Carl Jung
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Fear not therefore: for there is nothing covered that shall not be 
revealed; and nothing hid that shall not be made known. What I tell 
you in darkness, that speak ye in the light and what ye hear in the 
ear, that preach ye upon the housetops. Matthew 10:26-27

Die Pride and Envie; Flesh, take the poor's advice.
Covetousnesse be gon: Come, Truth and Love arise.
Patience take the Crown; throw Anger out of dores:
Cast out Hypocrisie and Lust, which follows whores:
Then England sit in rest; Thy sorrows will have end;
Thy Sons will live in peace, and each will be a friend.
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