Zephyrist's sunday night briefs - week 17, 2007

This week saw the start of the serious campaigning for the local elections. Not quite as exciting as the general election but it is everyone's democratic duty to vote or if there is no one you like, to spoil your ballot paper.

So what else has been occupying my mind in the last week?

Green electricity target in doubt (BBC)

Regen SW, a electricity industry pressure group is trying to put pressure on local councils in the South West to deal with planning applications for Wind Farms. As I have previously reported one of the major blocks to new wind farms is the long complicated planning approval process. Therefore the more pressure the industry can bring to bear the quicker schemes can get approved.

Of course are these companies really caring about the environment or merely about the profit that is being lost whilst the farms are stuck in the planning stage?

Gloom lifts for riding schools (BBC)

In today's blame culture there is no such thing as an accident, someone is to blame. Hence the minute anything happens people look round for someone to sue.

This story about the horse riding industry reports on recent cases where judges have ruled that some accidents are simply that, the instructors are not to blame and individuals must accept that horse riding has a risk attached.

A clear result in favour of common sense that will hopefully mean that people can still enjoy horse riding and other sports without having to worry about spiralling insurance costs.

Wave farm passes funding hurdle (BBC)

The wave power snakes have finally arrived in Cornwall. Funding has now been secured to build a wave farm complete with connection to the national grid off the coast of Cornwall. The wave farm will be able to supply power to 7,500 homes which is 3% of Cornwall's total power consumption.

Train leasing market investigated (BBC)

Another story that has been reported before on this blog. The Competition Commission is now going to investigate the train leasing industry. There is a belief that prices may be too high and train operating companies are not getting the service they deserve.

The Department of Transport suggests that the leasing companies may be making upwards of £175 million in excess profits every year.

Watch this space.

World rallies for Darfur action (BBC)

Today was a global day of action for Darfur demanding intervention to stop the fighting in Darfur.

I have said a lot about Darfur but I think this quote tells you what you need to know:

"In certain parts of Darfur, blood is running like water."

-Kristyan Benedict, Amnesty International

Celebrity photo shoot in support of the global action day - Excellent photography well worth a look.