Britain’s era of cheap energy gone for good
The former chairman of the Environment Agency warned the masses that the era of cheap energy for Britain is over and it may be over for good. Britain is now paying the price of becoming a low-carbon economy. The former chairman points his finger at the politicians whom he accuses of being dishonest with the public regarding the costs of developing new forms of clean energy and making it available to the public.
Fuel poverty is a problem that Britain has gotten itself into. The environmentalist calls for measures that need to be taken in order to recover from this problem. According to the former chairman thorough price controls need to be implemented on fuel. State sponsored subsidies should also be issued in order to prevent the development of a new low carbon poor class of people.
Sir John has made his thoughts public in a hard hitting Fabian Society pamphlet that is set to be released this month. He accesses the politicians of failing to match their promises regarding green with their actions saying they are “badly out of touch with the reality”. In the Green Crunch he wrote “It is extremely unlikely that we will ever get back to the retail energy prices of the past 15 years or so. Yet I do not think that this fact is being squarely presented to the electorate nor would it be an obvious vote-winner to do so.
He went further on to say “We need to acknowledge that there is, in a civilized society, a right to expect affordable access to warmth, light, and the other benefits which energy delivers and that this can only be protected as prices rise by intervention, either in the energy markets or through the welfare system.”
Amongst the things he pointed out was Gordon Brown’s failure to implement the green taxes that had been promised by him back in 1997. Sir John expressed his confidence in Barack Obama and stated that his team was the natural party that would be willing and able to face the environmental challenges.
Sir John has also served as the former Labour Council leader urged the politicians to be more honest with the masses regarding the environmental issues. He stressed that the environmental issues showed be given the same amount of important as social and economic issues are.
Feelings of shame not material losses cause of prominent suicides
The German Billionaire Aolf Merckle was one amongst a number of prominent figures that committed suicide in the wake of the global economic crisis. While the world believes that it was the big financial losses that caused the individuals to commit the act, medical health experts say it was deep feelings of shame and not the material losses that triggered the individuals to commit suicide.
Merckle had lost millions of dollars during the global financial crisis and killed himself by jumping in front of a speeding train on Monday. His death serves to lengthen the list of high profile investors committing suicide.
A professor of economic psychology at Berlin’s Free University Detlev Liepmann says “An industrialist losing a fortune on the stock market has different motives for killing himself than a father with six children who loses his job.” Liepmann further commented “Merckle’s livelihood was certainly not threatened by his risky investments but he was threatened by shame, a loss of face in society and a loss of honor.” Merckle was ranked as the fifth richest man of Germany.
Before him to go was the Frenchman Thierry Magon de la Villehuchet who was found dead on hiss office desk after having slit his wrists. The money manager had lost up to $1.4 billion of his client’s money in the Madoff scandal.
A psychotherapist in Frankfurt’s banking quarter, Gerrit Grahl said “People like Merckle may be highly motivated but also highly sensitive.” He treats more than four hundred patients each year and believes that bankers and managers are now topping the list,
Gerrit said “It’s unfortunate he killed himself because he could have been treated. Many other people in the same spot would say ‘to hell with it’. They’d look to save their own tail and wouldn’t think of killing themselves no matter what happens.”
The World Health Organization has also expressed its concerns over the dilemma caused to people as a result of the global economic crisis. The organization warned that the world could witness an increase in mental illness and suicides.
The director general of WHO, Margaret Chan said “There is clear evidence that suicide is linked to financial disasters, I am not talking about the millionaire jumping out of the window but about poor people.”
The Bazaar set to be a successful recession era restaurant
For two and a half years the celebrity chef of Spanish origin Jose Andres has been working on his restaurant project in Beverly Hills set to be launched as “The Bazaar”. With the global economic crisis shaping up to be the worst ever experienced in recent history there could have been a better time for the launch.
The irony is that Jose Andres is actually quite optimistic about launching his restaurant. Of course Andres is no fool, he knows that the economy is plundering and people don’t have the kind of money that they used to have to spend on fancy food but he also believes he has the recipe for success.
Jose Andres is adamant on making “The Bazaar” one of the most successful recession era restaurants by giving customers a menu that is extremely diverse in nature along with having truly unique items that they will not be able to find anywhere else.
The Bazaar is set to the theme of a Middle Eastern souk that is bustling with activity. It offers people the chance to drink and dine in various hang out spots such as a cocktail bar, traditional tapas spot, a modern tapas space along with a complete patisserie full of deluxe candy jars.
The restaurant gives customers the chance to move about from one section to another in order to experience the ambiance of the environment along with the flavor of the food. The Bazaar also gives customers the opportunity to stroll into the design boutique in order to buy some souvenirs such as replicas of the Titanic or paparazzi celebrity photos.
There is no doubt about the fact that the majority of people are on a tight budget these days. Andres says you can get delicious food in a few small plates for under ten dollars.
The celebrity chef who made it big with his cooking show “Made in Spain” says regarding the economic crisis “Of course, I am worried. You can only not be worried if you are a multimillionaire not invested in anything and with cash in the bank.”
Last Friday however The Bazaar was bustling with a crowd much like the actual Mideast Souk is during the holiday season. But naturally Andres was extremely pleased by the crowds that came in to experience the Bazaar amidst the economic crisis.
Live an organized live to increase your life expectancy
As boring as it may sound to the disorderly masses it is quite true that an organized lifestyle increases your life expectancy. In a recent study conducted by international researches new facts providing conclusive evidence for the above mentioned statement have been discovered. According to the results of the study people that are organized and ambitious are likely to live longer than those that live an impulsive daily routine.
The research brings to light the importance of psychological traits in predicting health conditions much in the same way as social and medical factors are regarded. The study revealed that conscientious people live a four years longer on an average. Furthermore the study also revealed that organized people are less likely to pick up bad habits such as smoking and drinking and generally live a less stressful life keeping them selves more stable.
The lead professor Howard Friedman said “Not only do conscientious individuals have better health habits and less risk-taking, but they also (have) more stable jobs and marriages and may even have a biological predisposition toward good health,”
The researchers made an in depth study of the three levels of conscientiousness. They are self control, organization and industriousness. The study was conducted on 8900 participants from US, Germany, Canada, Japan, Sweden and Norway.
The second two categories were linked to longevity according to the research. The study also highlighted other traits such as reliability, thoroughness, competence, deliberation and dutifulness. Good marriages and stable jobs are factors that can contribute to making an individual more conscientious. The researchers believe their study can help people to think about their lives and the consequences of their actions.
Co-Researcher Margaret Kern said “Even though conscientiousness cannot be changed in the short term, improvements can emerge over the long run as individuals enter responsible relationships, careers and associations.”
In the good old days, life used to be orderly due to the driving force of necessity. As the standard of living has improved over time people have started indulging themselves in luxury. This has had a profound effect on their lifestyles which has become less organized. People are focused on instant pleasure and short term goals rather than organizing their lives and striving to keep a healthy body and mind for a longer period of time.
Egypt likely to become an affordable holiday destination in 2009
Renowned for possessing one amongst the eight wonders of the world, Egypt has long been a popular tourist destination. The economic downturn has however had a negative impact on tourism in the country. The Egyptian government is now looking for ways to bolster its once thriving tourism industry.
The government has initiated a number of moves that are targeted towards improving the current situation of the tourism industry. Hotels will be exempted from paying taxes to promote the country’s tourism. Charter flights to the region will also have their fees reduced in order to come to grips with the global financial crisis.
The Assistant Minister of tourism Hisham Zaazou was reported saying “The minister (of tourism Zoheir Garrana) has agreed to exempt hotel establishments from tourism promotion fees which the ministry collects from the hotels to lessen their burdens during the financial crisis.”
The tourism industry of Egypt has been its greatest revenue earner but the global financial crisis has begun to downsize this giant industry. Hotel bookings have gone down by thirty percent as reported for January 2009. The ministry of tourism will also be setting up a working group to manage the effects that the crisis has had on the tourism industry and look for measures that can be taken during the first three months of 2009.
The aviation Minister of Egypt has agreed on lowering the landing and take off fees along with the ground handling charges for charted flights. Charter flights that will be making eleven trips to designated destinations within three months will have the above mentioned fee waived in total.
There will also be a change in the broadcast advertisement campaign. The advertising will now be focused on portraying Egypt has an affordable holiday destination in times of financial crisis.
The Egyptian economists have predicted that the revenue that the tourism industry is expected to generate during the current fiscal year which started from July 2008 is likely to remain unchanged.
The tourism industry represents 6.6 percent of the gross domestic product of Egypt. It is by far the main hard currency earner for Egypt and hence there is an urgent need to stabilize the industry and save it from descent in the face of the global economic crisis. So if you are looking for an affordable vacation in the upcoming year Egypt is going to be an ideal choice.