Steve Monaghan musings

If the bubble is inescapable. The political bubble. The Parliamentary democracy bubble. The Labour, Tory, SNP, DUP/Sinn Fein bubble in the UK. Then how come  NO Public Inquiries, initiated by successive governments, have resulted in their being a prosecution of the perpetrators?  Many take years, and lots of money,  to complete.  Those affected, many who fought for inquiry are left with no definitive answers just recommendations to be ignored because there is no reprisal for failing to implement them. Why has numerous reports into racism in police force, specifically The Met, resulted in yet another report twenty years later. The level of management compliance with the system not the inquiry is palpable. Those high in office will claim otherwise. The Grenfell Disaster Inquiry is ongoing. I predict there will be no prosecution of the company who supplied and fitted the inferior cladding. No prosecution of the local authority for 'cutting corners' forced by a lack of b...

I am that teenager who ran cross country (XC) at school and enjoyed it. Soon 1976 Ir joined a club Gateshead Harriers, hometown. Based at Gateshead stadium passed by millions of people running the Great North Run (GNR) since 1981. I ran my first in 1983.  Life's up and downs have been effected by involvement with running whether club linked or not. Much of my running has been done on my own. Chance to clear headspace, think things threw, process do.  Ran Geordie Run, alternative half marathon to GNR, in 1985. Then in 1986 departed to Matlock, Derbyshire to pursue a qualification in Community and Youth Work to seek a better life.  A bit of running whilst a student. First job post qualifying in Coventry. 1996 started running again. Joined Northbrook AC based at Jaguar factory. 1998 did my first Marathon, London, great experience even though injured. Raised money for Lupus UK.  Signed up for Sheffield marathon April 1999. Got new job in Chesterfield, started one week be...

 On 24th June 2017 the UK witnessed the worst fire disaster since Piper Alpha in 1998. 72 people died, 70 were injured and 223 escaped. In the wake of this tradegy organisations have emerged including Grenfell United, Justice4grenfell and Grenfell Action Group. All organisations have survivors amongst their members.Their stated aims include prosecution of those responsible. https://grenfellactiongroup.wordpress.com/ https://www.grenfellunited.org.uk/ https://justice4grenfell.org/ Like many disasters in the UK a Public Inquiry has been set up by the government. A prominent person is appointed, by government, as the lead. Many assume or believe the inquiry will lead to prosecutions. The purpose of an inquiry does not include prosecution - seeking justice. It makes recommendations to respective parties. Recommendations have no legal basis.  The following document How Public Inquiries Can Lead to Change (Institute for Government) explains Public Inquiries. https://drive.google.com...

The Climate Crisis is characterised by Carbon (Dioxide) reduction. Trees are Carbon Dioxide grabbers.  Trees are being removed in the name of development. To create land to grow stuff, build stuff and progress humanity. There is a net loss of Trees. Less Trees means less grabbers of Carbon Dioxide. Carbon Dioxide contributes to Greenhouse Gases. They cause the planet to choke, ice caps to melt and the air to heat up. This is The Climate Crisis. More Trees are needed. Therefore Stop Trees being removed - HS2 has, and will, continue to remove ancient woodlands Facebook: Campaigners against HS2 (resisths2) - Sheffield council via private contractor removing trees from streets https://savesheffieldtrees.org.uk/ - Housing development everywhere Plant Trees - Trees for Cities https://www.treesforcities.org/ - Woodland Trust https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/plant-trees/schools-and-communities/ - Trees not tees https://www.treesnottees.com/ - Community forests https://www.communityforest-t...