Transition Island Blog

Two teaspoons of cod liver oil a day can cut the number of powerful painkillers needed to ease the pain of arthritis.

Patients who were given the supplements were able to reduce their daily dose of anti-inflammatory drugs.

These findings are important because the long-term use of anti-inflammatory drugs can double the threat of heart attack and raise the risk of strokes and heart disease.

Dr Bernat Galarraga and colleagues from the Ninewells Hospital and Medical School in Dundee; the Western General Hospital in Edinburgh, and the University of Dundee, carried out this research.

This was proper science: a double-blind randomised controlled trial, although the patient nmbers were small. Funded by a small business, this shows the problems of field trials for drugs.

More people in the cod liver oil group (39%) were able to reduce their NSAID intake by more than 30% compared with the placebo group (10%). This reduction was significant.

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Meanwhile…

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The government is urging those who receive Pension Credit to apply for grants to help insulate their homes against the cold and rising fuel bills.

Minister for Pensions Reform Mike O’Brien said that with rising fuel prices it was more important than ever for people to properly insulate their homes and cut down on fuel usage.

a third lost

“As much as £1 in every £3 spent on heating bills is wasted in poorly insulated homes,” the minister said.

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I found a wonderful idea that brings the global problems home to each of us.   

Climate Change seems almost to be a global Act of God - a natural event, not preventable by any human action - even though we know we have caused some global warming and have in place the Kyoto Agreement, etc.

Peak Oil describes the oil-based lifestyle as addictive - this idea goes beyond that. It’s more like we’ve all caught a psychiatric illness.

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An Open Food Co-op is a partnership of people who like locally-sourced, high quality food and deliberately build a sustainable supply-and-communications network.

It builds on what is there now: existing producer’s co-ops, farms and farmers’ markets, processors (bakers, cheesemakers, etc), distributors, shops, box schemes, regional support groups.

It adds new local food clubs.

It adds food-related social events.

It links them with an innovative communication & information management system.

This idea comes from Gary Alexander, author of eGaia, Growing a peaceful, sustainable Earth through communications.

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The Conference is a great success! Well-designed, well-attended and well-addressed by relevant speakers.

Organised by the Island Strategic Partnership (ISP) to launch the Eco-Isle Vision, their many speakers repeatedly brought the message home - we WILL get there.

journey planning

Setting the scene were David Pugh, speaking as leader of the Isle of Wight Council, and John Owen, Chair of the ISP. They reminded us that we have to commit to our destination before we plan the journey. And what an ambitious destination!

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Man inhabits two worlds.

“One is the natural world of plants and animals, of soils and airs and waters which preceded him by billions of years and of which he is a part.

“The other is the world of social institutions and artefacts he builds for himself, using his tools and engines, his science and his dreams to fashion an environment obedient to human purpose and direction.

human experience

“The search for a better-managed human society is as old as man himself. It is rooted in the nature of human experience. Men believe they can be happy. They experience comfort, security, joyful participation, mental vigour, intellectual discovery, poetic insights, peace of soul, bodily rest. They seek to embody them in their human environment.

cramped & haunted 

“But the actual life of most of mankind has been cramped with back-breaking labour, exposed to deadly or debilitating disease, prey to wars and famines, haunted by the loss of children, filled with fear and the ignorance that breeds more fear. At the end, for everyone, stands dreaded unknown death. To long for joy, support and comfort, to react violently against fear and anguish is quite simply the human condition.” (page 35)

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A Japanese man has created a wave-powered boat.

To test it, he has set out from Hawaii for Japan, hoping to complete the 7,000 km (4,400 mile) journey using only the power of the waves beneath his boat.

The catamaran-like boat, the Suntory Mermaid II, has two wings in front. These convert the energy from waves into a movement similar to a dolphin’s kicks, making it the world’s first boat to be powered by the vertical motion of waves.

harnessing waves

“Twenty years ago while sailing, an accident broke my main mast which actually fell in the sea,” the white-haired Horie said. “The boat kept rocking and I thought how great it would be to actually harness the power of those waves to push the boat forward.”

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On the Isle of Wight, our local bus company is complaining that its free-bus-ride project is threatened by rising fuel prices.

A 35% rise in a year, in fact.
(County Press 14/3/08)

They’re not alone. In the last three months at least four other bus companies have said the same.

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World-famous as the home of Queen Victoria’s Osborne House, East Cowes is moving ahead.

The first Town Meeting is due on Thursday 3/4/08 at 7pm in the Town Hall.

All local residents are invited to share hopes and ideas for the town’s future. 

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“TIGER, tiger, burning bright 
In the forests of the night…”      

William Blake’s oft-quoted poem ’The Tiger’ was published in 1789, when the tigers were mysterious and the population was uncounted.

In 1920s a hunt could still kill over 100 tigers a day. BUT NOW TIGERS ARE DISAPPEARING.

The world’s tiger population may have halved in the last 25 years. And at least one of the remaining five sub-species is in danger of becoming extinct, World Wildlife Fund conservation experts said recently. [more]

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