Author Archives: martinaweitsch

About martinaweitsch

I'm interested in politics and rational political debate which isn't afraid of the facts or the complexities and contradictions inherent in most important issues.

A mass​ movement of people – why?

We live in a globalised world. For me, personally, the opening up of the world beyond my immediate communities was a wonderful thing. It allowed me to travel widely though in the early days of my travels this was much … Continue reading

Posted in Climate Breakdown, Climate Change, Travel | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Do we get what the planet is telling us?

It’s been an important few weeks for the planet. We have had the most recent report from the IPCC. It makes salutary reading for policymakers and for each of us individually. At the same time, at the very same time … Continue reading

Posted in Climate Breakdown, Climate Change, Politics in context, renewable energy | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Facts – and what they mean

If you’ve been following this blog, you’ll know that one of the things I care about is using facts and interpreting them in a meaningful way; using numbers and putting them into context. This week (first week in April 2018) … Continue reading

Posted in Behind the Headlines, contextualising numbers, Facts, Statistics | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Renewable Energy – where next in the UK?

I know that comparing the UK with other EU member states isn’t all that fashionable these days. But as long as we are still in the EU we do still benefit from regular statistical comparison between what we do here … Continue reading

Posted in Behind the Headlines, Climate Change, Politics in context, renewable energy, UK-EU | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

UK-US TRADE DEAL TO BE SHROUDED IN SECRECY

This is the morning’s front page that greeted me on 21 December 2017. Several things immediately spring to the forefront of my mind: We weren’t supposed to start trade negotiations until after we’ve left the EU; so what is the … Continue reading

Posted in Behind the Headlines, NHS, Politics in context, Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, UK Trade Post Brexit | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

National Park City

It’s a strange concept to talk about a National Park and a city in the same breath. But for some time, there has been an initiative in London to get the city declared a National Park City. I have been … Continue reading

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A one-sided contest

Originally posted on EAPPI UK & Ireland Blogs:
By EA Andy, Northern West Bank Muhammad looks at me, exasperated: “Imagine how you would feel if 70 hooligans turned up out of nowhere and started throwing rocks at you and your…

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Tax – it’s not a fee for services

There is a prevailing sense that paying tax is something everyone naturally wants to avoid. I think it is a pernicious undermining of any kind of social cohesion to give this view too much credence. It is made worse by … Continue reading

Posted in Equality, GENERAL ELECTION, Politics in context, Tax Matters, Welfare | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

An Economy That Works for People and Planet

It is almost impossible not to see that the approach that we as a society have taken to economic development, to the way the economy is shaped, hasn’t worked for many people and is devastating the planet. Why is that? … Continue reading

Posted in Economics, Equality, Politics in context | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Please let us come back to our senses!

As per the Guardian, Conservative MP Andrew Rosindell said the burgundy passport had been a source of national “humiliation”.[1] This was posted in the Guardian on 2 April. Had it been the day before, I’d have put it down to … Continue reading

Posted in Constitutional Reform, Politics in context | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment