Heron's Eye: 06/01/09

Home Office flouted guidelines in 10 ways over knife crime statistics
"Any figures that fail to comply with code in future will be refused stamp of approval, says statistics body

The early release of knife crime statistics by the Home Office last month flouted new official guidelines in 10 different ways, the UK statistics authority said today.

The UKSA published its code of practice today alongside a final judgment by the UKSA on the Home Office's misuse last month of knife crime statistics suggesting the offence was under control. The UKSA said that any figures that failed to comply with the code in future would be refused a stamp of approval." [Guardian]

Boris 2009: transport
"Noticed those fares rises yet? They have in Enfield, and I doubt they're alone. It's no surprise that from the moment he announced them Mayor Johnson has worked super-hard to limit the political damage, initially by blaming them on Ken Livingstone - who's latest broadside on the issue is here - and now, it would appear, by trying not to mention them. His effort in today's Standard skates straight past the subject (as did the paper in general: there's two pages on commuters' rail fares going up, but barely a mention of those affecting bus and Tube-users).

His spin, supported by a shamelessly one-eyed newspaper, might work for Johnson, at least in the short term. We'd get a better idea if someone would commission an opinion poll: after eight months of Mayor Boris - one sixth of his term already - you'd have thought someone might have thought it worthwhile by now." [Guardian]

It will take more than goodwill and greenwash to save the biosphere: Shell may boast about tackling climate change, but companies tend always to sacrifice good intentions for hard cash
"For a while it seemed that Shell had stopped pretending. The advertisements that filled the newspapers in 2006, featuring technicians with perfect teeth and open-necked shirts explaining how they were saving the world, vanished. After being slated by environmentalists for greenwash, after two adverse rulings by the Advertising Standards Authority, Shell appeared to have accepted the inescapable truth that it was an oil company with a minor sideline in alternative energy, and that there was no point in trying to persuade people otherwise.

The interview I conducted with its chief executive, Jeroen van der Veer, broadcast on the Guardian's website today, contains what appears to be an interesting admission. I asked him whether Shell had stopped producing ads extolling its investments in renewable energy. Van der Veer does not express himself clearly at this point, but he seems to admit that his company's previous advertising was not honest." [Guardian]

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EU Parliament Monitor - 14/11/08

The Week Ahead 17-23 November 2008
Plenary Session – Strasbourg [Europa]

Arab week in pictures
"Arab and European politics and culture came together under the European Parliament's roof in Brussels this week, as relations between the two were discussed in a series of seminars on education, human rights and the price and future of oil.

Arabic culture was on display with exhibitions, a performance by folk groups from Bahrain and Arab calligraphy demonstrations

The events during 3-7 November took place as part of the European year of intercultural dialogue." [Europa]

In the Loop: 31/09/08

Petrol price to drivers still not falling as fast as a barrel of oil 31/10/08
“The price of petrol at the pump is not falling as fast as the price of oil from peak levels over the summer, according to Guardian analysis.

The average pump price is falling by about a penny every five days but still has 5.8p a litre to drop if it is to catch up with recent sharp declines in the price of oil.” [Guardian]

Barclays raises more than £7bn from Middle East investors 31/10/08
“Barclays is raising up to £7.3bn from Middle East investors, who could end up owning more than a third of the UK's second largest bank. The move allows the bank to strengthen its balance sheet without taking help from the taxpayer.

The cash injection is coming from the royal families of Abu Dhabi and Qatar, who have both agreed to pump billions into Barclays to bolster its capital ratios. The Qataris, who already own a significant shareholding in Barclays, are providing up to £2.3bn. Once the deal goes through they will own up to 15.5% of the bank.” [Guardian]

People-power a step closer in energy bill 31/10/08
“The prospect of households with wind turbines and solar panels being able to sell power back to the national grid has come a step closer after the government tabled an amendment to a bill that would allow people to generate enough power to serve a community of more than 1,000 people.

The government said 10 days ago it was keen to get the proposal into the energy bill after facing down opposition from power companies concerned that allowing individuals and communities the chance to profit from energy creation significantly altered the market. The measure will be debated in the Lords next week.” [Guardian]

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Heron's Eye: 30/10/08

Chancellor demands cheaper petrol as Shell posts record profits 30/10/08
“Alistair Darling today called on oil companies to pass on lower costs to consumers by cutting petrol prices as Royal Dutch Shell posted a 71% rise in profits.

The chancellor said that he wanted the recent drop in the oil price, which has halved in recent months, to be passed on to the pumps as soon as possible.” [Guardian]

Government accused of breaking rules over Sellafield decommissioning plans 30/10/08
“The government was last night under pressure from parliament's most powerful watchdog committee to re-open consultations on the deal which has landed taxpayers with the bill for nuclear accidents and leaks when a private consortium takes over the decommissioning of Sellafield next month.

Edward Leigh, chairman of the Commons public accounts committee, has written to Ed Miliband, the energy and climate change secretary, telling him that his ministry had broken Treasury rules and failed to given MPs the opportunity to object to the indemnity to private firms.” [Guardian]

Ministers accused of arrogance over 128-day parliamentary session 30/10/08
“Opposition politicians have accused the government of "arrogantly" misusing its oversight of parliamentary business, as it emerged yesterday that the number of days MPs would attend parliament in the next session would be the smallest since 1979-80.” [Guardian]

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Grimsdale's Ire: 01/08/08

Blindfolds that wrecked a deal to boost global trade

Excellent article by Phillip Stephens in the FT, discussing the lack of heroes participating in the Doha round. He mentions the likely effects on international trade, geopolitics and on the impact on the poorest nations. [FT]

Erdogan must seize this chance to reform Turkey

Soli Ozel on a key episode in Turkey’s democratisation process, involving Turkey’s court deliberating that the AKP should not be shut down despite being engaged in anti-secular activities. [FT]

A windfall tax is an easy solution – but a wrong one

The Independent’s leading article on why a windfall tax on energy companies would only be a short-term solution and how more effective regulation would be more appropriate. [Independent]

The Cost of Oil Subsidies

NY Times editorial on developing economies continuing their oil subsidies. [NYTimes]

Sam Freedman: Good teachers are made in the classroom

Sam Freedman, head of the education unit at Policy Exchange reinforces the importance of high quality teaching on educational attainment and on possible innovations such as paid learning on the job to encourage recruitment and development of trainees. [Independent]

Pensioners are a blessing, not a problem

Melanie McDonagh takes an optimistic view of the consequences of longer life expectancy on society. [Telegraph]

How to regain popularity: windfall taxes or surcharge on banks?

Michael White on Gordon Brown’s options for alleviating poverty caused through soaring energy prices. [Guardian]

The return of Nicolas Sarkozy, the great reformer

Rosemary Righter on Nicolas Sarkozy’s sudden flourish of legislative reforms. [Times]

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In The Loop: 31/07/08

Higher oil price boosts BP profit

Oil giant BP has announced a 6% rise in profits for the second quarter of 2008, largely thanks to a sharp rise in the price of oil. [BBC]

Climate activists occupy proposed site for coal-fired power station

Climate change activists yesterday occupied the proposed site for Britain's first coal-fired power station in 30 years, claiming the development will cause huge damage to the environment if it goes ahead. [Guardian]

Next prime minister or this one must deal with rising energy prices

Excellent article by Micael White on UK utility companies’ failure to develop modern infrastructure to keep down the price of energy. [Guardian]

Cable calls for social tariff for energy providers

Vince Cable was asked about rising energy prices, the housing market and the profits of Centrica. He called for a social tariff whereby energy providers would feed money back to those most in need.

He said on the issue of home heating that as summer moves to winter, “those high prices will really bite. We have 2.5 million people in fuel poverty.

He said that for the energy providers, “there should be an obligation to provide a real social tariff.” [PoliticsHome]

'Oil from algae' promises climate friendly fuel

A liquid fuel made from plants that is chemically identical to crude oil but which does not contribute to climate change when it is burned or, unlike other biofuels, need agricultural land to produce sounds too good to be true. But a company in San Diego claims to have developed exactly that – a sustainable version of oil it calls "green crude". [Guardian]

Two wheels

Wonderful look by Claire Armitstead on the relationship between cycling and political values. [Guardian]

UK is second in the world at research

UK scientists publish more research than any other country in the world except the United States, the science minister will say today. However, China now publishes almost the same number of studies as the UK – four times as many as it did 10 years ago. [Guardian]

United States economy shrinks for first time since 2001

The US economy shrank at the end of 2007 for the first time in six years, according to official figures, leading analysts to speculate the world's largest economy may be in recession. [Guardian]

House prices suffer record fall

House prices continued to fall in July, recording their largest year-on-year drop since the property market crash of the early 1990s, figures from Nationwide building society showed today. [Guardian]

Nasa discovers giant lake on surface of Saturn moon

Nasa scientists said today they had discovered the first direct evidence that the surface of Saturn's largest moon, Titan, has lakes of liquid hydrocarbons - the only object other than Earth to have standing liquids on its surface. [Guardian]

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